Annual Fund

The Annual Fund bridges the gap between the partial amount that the state contributes per student and what it actually costs to run our school each year. It’s essential to maintaining the quality education and enriching experiences that define The Island School.

The Island School is tuition-free, and no, state funding doesn’t cover everything. Funding is determined by FTE (Full-Time Equivalency). While FTE pays for the basics, it doesn’t fully fund general operating costs as well as the complete The Island School experience our students enjoy every day.

Not at all. Not-for-profit charter schools have relied on Annual Fund support for years. It’s a longstanding practice in charter education and a key part of how schools like ours maintain excellence. Nearly every not-for-profit charter school in the country operates this way; it’s simply part of the school model.

Your gift supports what makes The Island School exceptional! Talented and highly effective educators, specialized and differentiated instruction, small class sizes, advanced technology, arts programs, unique experiences, and the wide range of student programs are all things that make our school so special.

No, Annual Fund gifts provide unrestricted support. They offset the operating budget and provide flexibility to address the school’s most pressing needs. Annual Fund gifts do not support capital projects like building construction or major renovations.

No, the Annual Fund is not used for major construction or capital projects. Those large-scale facilities like renovations and campus expansions are funded separately through capital campaigns and designated gifts.

Your gift impacts students right now. Annual Fund contributions are used in the same fiscal year they’re given, so your support directly benefits students, including your child and their classmates, today.

Your annual participation matters more than the amount. Every family’s gift, no matter the size, shows support for The Island School and strengthens our educational community. When parents, alumni, and friends all contribute, it adds up to amazing opportunities for our students.

Absolutely! Every dollar provides a high-level education to our students. When our entire community participates, those individual gifts collectively create extraordinary opportunities for them.

That’s wonderful news for our students! Any funds raised beyond our goal go directly into the operating budget, allowing us to enhance programs and invest in additional resources. There’s no such thing as raising “too much” for the Annual Fund because every dollar benefits our students.