The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation$5 million Challenge Match for Endowed Scholarships

PARENT CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF

20 October, 2010Feast of Mater Admirabilis

ANNUAL FUND 2010

Typically at this time of the year, the Annual Fund drive commences

However, this year…

CONCEPT:

To convert the Annual Fund’s resources - time, human and financial

Switch efforts - Utilize the proceeds from the Annual Fund for scholarships and the Auction and Fund-a-need for operations

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What is The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Match?  The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded Forest

Ridge an unprecedented gift of $5 million for endowed scholarship, with an additional challenge match of $5 million if Forest Ridge raises another $5 million by December 31, 2010.

This would bring the total to $15 million in additional scholarship endowment funds.

The current value of our scholarship endowment is $9.6 M (including the initial $5M Gates Foundation Gift)

This will afford us 24 additional full scholarships

What will this challenge do or provide for Forest Ridge?

Allow us to achieve our dreams as outlined by the Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart’s Strategic Plan: Road Map 2008 -2013.

Enable us to create sustainable change in our community

Afford us this unique opportunity to share the Forest Ridge mission and passion for academic excellence to qualified young women.

When did the challenge start? In Spring 2009 with major donors about 20 months ago.

 When is the challenge over?

December 31, 2010 To accomplish this, all gifts or pledges need

to be formalized by November 15 to help facilitate this urgent timeline.

The Office of Institutional Advancement will need this time to gather information, verify corporate matching gifts and create a report prior to meeting with the foundation’s program officer by December 15.

TIMELINE:

• Actual Date: December 31, 2010 (per guidelines)

• Target Date: November 15, 2010

Why is this challenge match important to Forest Ridge?

Supports one of the seven (7) strategic objectives outlined in the 2008-2013 Strategic Plan.

Addresses: “Affordability and Accessibility” – a major objective of this institution: to allow qualified young women access to an affordable Forest Ridge education.

REALITY OF THE CHALLENGE:

It’s about:

• Governance • Envisioning our future and making it happen • Handling assets • Fundraising • Our future relationship with The Bill & Melinda

Gates Foundation • How we are perceived in the greater Bellevue/

Seattle community • Taking Forest Ridge as a girls’ school seriously

Where are we with the challenge?

As of October 20, 2010, we raised

$2.6M or 52% of the $5M goal.  

Why have we waited so long to ask the Board of Trustees, Faculty, Staff, Parents and Alumnae for support toward the match?

Recall, February 2009 was the height of the economic recession

Changes in leadership – two new Board of Trustee Chairs, new Head of School, new Head of High School and new Director of Institutional Advancement

MOVING FORWARD “The Quiet Phase” anticipated

receiving between 40-50% of the goal from 20% of the constituency groups before going public – Accomplished!

With 52% of the goal reached, we are on target to commence “The Public Phase”.

OBJECTIVE:

To secure the match! 

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT?TIMELINE:9.10.2010 - Presentation to Board of Trustees - Done9.14.2010 - Presentation to Faculty and Staff – Done9.15.2010 - Presentation to Alumnae Board - Done9.20.2010 - Campaign Kick-Off announced to Parents - Done 9.30.2010 - Presentation to Parent Advisory Board - Done9.30.2010 - As a result of feedback, engaged Students – Ongoing10.1 – 10.2 – Presentation to Alumnae at Reunion - Done10.20.2010 – Parent Dinner and Campaign Kick-Off – Now!10.20.2010 – Alumnae Campaign Kick-Off – Done10.24, 10.25 and 10.27 - Alumnae Phone-a-thon 10.27.2010 - Letter appeal to Grandparents, Past Parents & Friends11.05.2010 - Mes Amis – Mass appeal to all constituents

ONGOING ASKS FROM:ParentsAlumnaeFamilyFriendsMajor DonorsCorporations FoundationsOthers

KEY ACTIVITIES: 

Board of Trustees:Set the pace - 100% Participation - GOAL MET

Faculty and Staff: Get involved early - 100% Participation - GOAL MET

Faculty: “Say Yes to the Dress” for Scholarships: 2 Fashion Events with Randy Fenoli on 11.17.2010; 4-6 pm (Mothers and Daughters) and 7-9pm (External Community)

Students: Student Involvement - Ongoing – Goal 100% Participation

Parents: Dinner and Participation – Goal 100% Participation

Alumnae: Customized appeal letter to all alumnae with phone-a-thon - Goal to increase participation from 10 % of active alumnae to 30%

Past Parents: Customized letter with appeal   Grandparents: Customized letter with appeal

Foundation: Write grants - $500,000 to date and ongoing

Corporations:Matching funds requested from all constituents - Ongoing  Major Donors: Top 25 - 50 with personal asks: Sept, Oct, Nov., Dec

FACULTY AND STAFF GOAL:

Raised to Date: $52,033+100% Participation by Faculty & Staff

Named Faculty and Staff Scholarship

STUDENT PARTICIPATION Middle School:Raised to date: $625Created marbleized parent invitationsStudents organized raffles for fundraisingCreated skits to educate about Gates MatchHigh School:Raised to date: $124Childcare during parent dinnersVolunteering phone-a-thonBenefit Tailgate event barbeque

PARTICIPATION: Will my gift make a difference?

YesVote of confidence - a positive signal - to corporations, foundations and the greater community of your support

BOTTOM LINE

By November 15, we will have:

Completed all appeals except to Major Donors.

Positioned ourselves more favorably to the foundation should we not reach the additional $2.4M needed.

What we need from you?Gift or three-year pledge by November 15, 2010

Request for matching funds if applicable

Q& A’s