Special Funds at The Common School

Endowment Funds

An endowment fund consists of gifts to the school, only the annual earnings of which are spent. We never invade principal, and we do our best to ensure that the principal grows to keep pace with inflation.

The Financial Aid Endowment Fund
The Common School continues to make a serious commitment to financial aid through our annual budget. This fund, though, makes our commitment a permanent one. It currently produces approximately $8,000 per year toward financial aid. The principal is retained for growth, and only dividends & interest are expended.

The General Endowment Fund
Interest from this fund enables us to moderate tuition increases by producing general revenue for the budget each year.

The Faculty Professional Development Endowment Fund
This fund allows our faculty to continue their professional development, for their own intellectual growth, and to the advantage of the Common School curriculum and students.

Current Funds

A current fund consists of gifts to the school of which the principal and earnings are spent for restricted purposes.

Rosemary Agoglia Staff Development Fund
Named in honor of Rosemary, 27 year veteran of the faculty, this fund supports the institutional belief that a strong, collaborative bond among the faculty and staff is critical to the success of the school.

Gudrun Stewart Playground Fund
When Gudrun retired in 1999 after over a 30-year commitment to The Common School, a fund was established in her honor that will help us plan, renovate, and redesign our play yards and the adventure playground in the years ahead. This year we are eager to add several new climbing elements to the playground.

The Kirsten Kaiser Technology Fund
Named in honor of Kirsten Kaiser, beloved teacher of the oldest children in the school for over 20 years who passed away in 1994, this fund supports curriculum materials and faculty development in the area of technology, a special interest of Kirsten’s.

Director’s Financial Aid Fund
This fund supports The Common School's effort to be accessible to families whose financial constraints would make it impossible for them to send their child to the school. This fund is structured to accept pledges for three to five years, payable in increments of $500 or more. During this current year, over $7,000 from this fund went to support children on financial aid at the school.

The Diversity Fund
This fund enables us to hire consultants, develop curriculum, order books, and hold workshops to help us better able to fulfill our mission of "building an inclusive and caring community...and to celebrate life in all of its diversity."