FAQs
Q: Why is it important that parents make their commitment before December 31?
A: All Warrior Fund donations are used during the current academic school year. Your commitment today helps the school create an effective plan to benefit all students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Q: Why should I contribute to the Warrior Fund? Isn’t tuition enough?
A: The Warrior Fund has a direct impact on the quality of Lakehill education. Gifts to the Warrior Fund comprise approximately 5% of the school’s operating budget not met by tuition revenues. The school is dependent on money raised through the Warrior Fund to help bridge this gap, approximately $2,500 per student.
Q: Why can’t the School draw more money from the endowment instead of fundraising?
A: Lakehill Preparatory School is fortunate, thanks to the generosity of generations of philanthropic alumni, parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends, to have an endowment. Our school endowment is in its early stages of accumulation.
The endowment allows the School to pursue its educational mission without jeopardizing its financial stability. Our long-term goal is for a portion of the endowment income to fund the yearly-operating budget. Endowed funds are held in perpetuity. In addition, some contributors to the endowment have set specific restrictions on how these funds may be used.
Q: What are the Warrior Fund giving levels? What are the benefits?
Warrior Circle | $25,000 and up |
Chair’s Circle | $10,000 – $24,999 |
Head of School’s Council | $5,000 – $9,999 |
Benefactors | $2,500 – $4,999 |
Patrons | $1,000 – $2,499 |
Partners | $500 – $999 |
Supporters | $100 – $499 |
Friends | Gifts up to $99 |
Benefits of the Warrior Fund Leadership Circle:
Giving levels in bold represent our Leadership Circle with the following benefits:
- Donors who support at the Patrons level and above will be invited to attend our annual Head of School Reception held in April.
Donors who support at the Head of School’s Council level and above before December 31st will be invited to join Lakehill for a special dinner in late January and will be invited to attend the Head of School Reception in April.
Supporters (Classes of 2019-2014) | $100 – $499 |
Friends (Classes of 2023-2018) | $50 – $99 |
Young Alumni Giving Leadership Circle:
These Giving levels represent our Young Alumni Leadership Circle with the following benefits:
- Young Alumni donors who support the school at the Friends and Supporters levels and above will be invited to join us for a special luncheon in June.
Q: Did you know that there is a funding gap of $1,000-1,500 per student? This is 3-5% of our operating budget.
A: The Warrior Fund is critically important to funding Lakehill School’s operating budget every year.
Q: Do major gifts make up most of the Annual Fund?
A: Yes, leadership giving is the mainstay of the School’s Warrior Fund. Last year, leadership gifts represented more than 80%, of the total unrestricted annual gifts received. The School depends on strong leadership giving from its most loyal and generous benefactors and gives special recognition to them through membership in the Head of School’s Council, President’s Circle, and Chairman’s Circle. All leadership donors are acknowledged and invited to different events hosted by the Head of School, and the Board of Trustees. As you consider your level of support for Lakehill’s Warrior Fund, please consider joining the Head of School’s Council, the President’s or Chairman’s Circle, or moving to the next highest level of support. Company matching gifts received by the Fund’s closing date, June 30th, are counted toward membership in these Circles.
Q: If I can’t make a large gift, does a small gift really make a difference?
A: Yes! The School values every gift regardless of the size. Last year, one-quarter of all donors gave $100 or less which represented tens of thousands of dollars. Thanks in part to these contributions, the Warrior Fund reached a new milestone for total giving, directly benefiting each student’s Lakehill experience! Lakehill Preparator greatly values participation as it ensures the strength of our Annual Fund year after year.
Q: How much should I donate to the Annual Fund?
A: We anticipate that parents will make Lakehill Preparatory School their highest philanthropic priority while their children are students here. We also believe alumni will recognize the critical importance Lakehill Preparatory School played in their success and will support the School’s ability to provide a similar opportunity for those who follow. Annual Fund gifts to the School range in size from $5 to $50,000. While leadership gifts are important for the School’s economic strength, every gift does matter and every gift does make a difference. Strong financial support of the Warrior Fund demonstrates the donor’s understanding and commitment to the School.
Q: Who will be solicited for Warrior Fund?
A: More than alumni, parents, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty, and staff are solicited each year by mail, email, calls, and/or in person and asked for their support. Two goals drive the Annual Fund – the total dollar amount raised and the percentage of participation.
Lakehill Preparatory School values the inclusive nature of its community and participation in the Warrior Fund is an important priority. The parent participation goal is 100%.
Q: Why is Warrior Fund Participation Important?
A: Every member of the extended community is asked to support the Warrior Fund each year. We aim for 100% participation from current families, alumni, faculty/ staff, and trustees. High participation demonstrates our community’s strength and shared commitment to our students and is vital to the School’s efforts to attract gifts and grants from foundations, corporations, and other individuals.
Q: I’d also like to support Trek-for-Tech and Auction, how do I prioritize?”
A: When planning your philanthropic support of Lakehill, we ask that you make your Warrior Fund gift first, before considering gifts to fundraising initiatives.
Q: Are Warrior Fund (annual fund) gifts tax deductible?
A: Lakehill Preparatory School is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization under the Federal Internal Revenue Code. Unlike tuition fees, all contributions to the annual Warrior Fund are deductible pursuant to the prevailing tax laws. All donors to the annual Warrior Fund receive a letter noting their gift amount, date of gift, and the disclosure that no goods or services were provided.
Q: How can I make a gift?
A: Donate online, and set up a monthly or quarterly gift if that is more convenient for you. Or send a check made payable to Lakehill Preparatory School to:
Lakehill Preparatory School
Office of Advancement and Development
2720 Hillside Drive
Dallas, TX 75214
For more information on how to make a gift, please reach out to Leslie Whitfield, Director of Advancement and Development, at lwhitfield@lakehillprep.org or 214826.2931.