GIVING AND GETTING INVOLVED
~ Excelsior Annual Giving at HSC ~

What is the Excelsior Annual Giving Campaign goal?
Tuition fees alone do not cover the cost of the enriched learning environment that HSC provides.  Annual gifts make up the difference between what tuition covers and the actual cost of operating our school to such a high standard.  Donated funds are distributed across all four schools annually to support the many “extras” offered in an HSC education.  The priorities change annually, with approval by the Headmaster, and we strive to grow the annual giving fund every year in order to support our expanding program offering.  The focus of our 2009-2010 annual campaign is “Learning to Lead.”  We are committed to developing our students’ leadership skills, and to ensuring that they are equipped with the skills needed to be fully prepared for a world that is increasingly dynamic and competitive.

How many people give to HSC?
We are very proud to have seen a continued growth in philanthropic participation at HSC over the past few years.  During the DeGroote Family Donation Challenge a few years ago a record number of families and individuals contributed tax-deductible cash donations, and many hundreds of other gift-in-kind donations were also made.  During this past years’ campaign we fulfilled the challenge of our nine Champions by securing over 500 donors to the campaign by June 30, 2009, and doubled our average participation rate.  We increased the levels of participation in all stakeholder groups, including current parents, alumni and staff and faculty. 

Does HSC get financial support from Government or Corporations?
In short: no.   Independent schools in Ontario receive no Government funding support, and the days of major corporations paying school fees for their employees are largely past.  Individual families, as you well know, pay their own tuition and other fees, which are not tax deductible.  However, as a registered non-profit agency recognized by Canada Revenue Agency, HSC is able to tax receipt eligible gifts to the College.

Why does HSC ask for contributions in addition to tuition and fees?
The Board of Governors sets tuition as low as possible without compromising the overall quality and breadth of our programming at HSC.  But tuition and fees do not fully cover the cost of operating a leading independent school in Canada.  Most independent schools in North America need a healthy annual giving campaign to support their operational budgets;  HSC uses the philanthropy of our supporters to ensure a wide array of excellent programs are offered to all of our students annually.  Over the course of the past five years, as an example, we have doubled our spending on IT as we acquired SMARTBoards, mobile computer labs, etc.  Most of this increased investment in our students has been paid for with donated funds.

If fees were increased to the actual cost of tuition and additional educational programming, some families would not be able to attend HSC.  This in turn could impact enrollment and result in the need to cut programs or an even steeper increase in tuition fees, making it even harder to obtain charitable gifts.  Our annual campaign is a means to offset this cycle if at all possible, and is common practice in most independent schools in North America.

How much should we give?
We simply ask for generous participation at your own level of giving comfort.  Excelsior helps us cover the gap between fees and the full cost of an HSC education, and that can be an extra book in the library or a suite of laptops for a classroom.  All gifts are valued at HSC, and we especially value the philosophy of increasing our participation numbers in the Excelsior campaign.  This is the foundation for the growth of our donor program for the decades ahead.

What are the giving levels?
Donor giving levels allow HSC to give special recognition to every one of our supporters.  The categories are:

• Chair’s Table Donors  ($25,000 and up)
• Headmaster’s Circle Donors ($10,000 - $24,999)
• Boar-Pibroch Club Donors ($5,000 - $9,999)
• Platinum Donors ($2,500 - $4,999)
• Gold Donors ($1,000 - $2,499)
• Silver Donors ($500 - $999)
• Bronze Donors ($250 - $499)
• Supporter Donors (up to $249)

Why is Hillfield Strathallan College called an Independent School?
We develop our own programs and curriculum, exceeding Ministry expectations while still incorporating the Ontario curriculum requirements. We operate without financial support from any level of Government, are governed by our own Board of Governors, and of course we are completely non-profit.  Unlike public or separate schools, which are funded by tax dollars, independent schools are completely dependent on tuition fees, endowment income and fundraising to meet their operating and capital requirements. Independent schools have long relied on the generosity and loyalty of their constituencies to advance their institutions. Very few, if any, independent schools, colleges or universities meet their financial obligations with tuition alone.

How do I make a donation to HSC?
There are a number of ways.  A copy of our annual campaign brochure can be found in various places around the College, as well as online at http://www.hsc.on.ca/advancing-hsc/making-donation You may make your donations by cash, cheque, credit card or on your HSC account.  You may also set up monthly deductions to spread your giving over a period of time.  Tribute gifts may also be made in honour or memory of someone close to you, and will be acknowledged on our website. 
Please call us at 905 389 1367 ext 16, or email lewis@hsc.on.ca  for more information on how to give.

Can we make a contribution of something other than cash?
Certainly. There are many ways to make a contribution to the school. The Advancement Office can help you determine what type of gift is most appropriate for your circumstances and the school's needs.

Can we make a gift go to a specific purpose?
Yes. Although the Annual Fund seeks unrestricted gifts, if there is a project you would like to fund, please let us know. Capital Campaigns generally provide named gift opportunities, and our Endowment Fund supports our scholarship program.  Providing your interest can be matched to a current HSC need, we should be able to offer you further choices to meet your giving objectives.

How does the Tribute Program support the College?
An HSC Tribute gift is a simple and meaningful way to honour a teacher or someone you care about. We will send a special card to the person you are honouring to advise them of your thoughtfulness, and post the Tribute to our website.  Tribute gifts can be made by visiting www.hsc.on.ca/advancing-hsc/tribute-program.html or by picking up a Tribute Card in the main office at the College.  All Tribute gifts will count towards the Excelsior Annual Giving Campaign.