Taft Parents' Fund

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What is the Taft Fund?

The Taft Fund is a yearly fundraising effort. The dollars raised are used exclusively to support Taft’s operating budget. That means they pay for books and technology in the library and classrooms; soccer balls, hockey pucks, and baseball bats; a favorite teacher's salary; paint brushes, pianos and pottery clay; petri dishes in the chemistry lab, and microscopes for biology; the budget for The Papyrus; the cost of a DJ for a Saturday night dance; and much, much more. The Taft Fund is conducted by the Advancement Office in coordination with Taft alumni and parent volunteers who seek to raise unrestricted contributions from the school constituency, including alumni, current parents, past parents, and grandparents. Last year’s Taft Fund totaled $5.4MM, representing 11% of the school’s total operating budget.

What is the Taft Parents' Fund?

The Taft Parents' Fund is part of the Taft Fund. It is a fundraising initiative driven and supported by the parents of current Taft students. Jane and Chris Hentemann, P’19,’21,’24 lead the effort with the help from the Parents’ Committee. The Taft Parents' Fund is one of the leading campaigns of its kind in the country, and has long been recognized as the standard-bearer for parent giving among our nation's independent secondary boarding schools.

Why do we need the Taft Fund?

Being an independent school means that we are a nonprofit organization, operating without financial support from local or federal taxes. We rely on tuition, the Taft Fund, and endowment income to support the day-to-day operation of our school. Tuition revenue alone will not cover the school’s $51.4MM annual operating budget. In fact, Taft’s 2023–24 boarding tuition of $72,000 will cover only 81% of the actual cost of educating the student, resulting in a gap of $16,700 per student. To close the gap, Taft relies on additional sources of revenue: Taft Fund contributions and the draw on endowment. Every Taft student is a direct and immediate beneficiary of Taft Fund contributions.

Why is the Taft Parents' Fund important?

Parent support at Taft not only enhances the lives of each student in a direct and immediate way, but it is also one of the school's most impressive credentials. Ninety percent of Taft parents joined in raising $2,585,031 last year, representing 48% of total Taft Fund giving. This ringing endorsement of its parent body has become Taft's special trademark and is a critical factor in enabling the school to compete on every level with the most highly endowed schools in the nation.

How can a family support the Taft Parents' Fund?

The 2023-24 Taft Parents’ Fund campaign runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Tax-deductible giving corresponds with the fiscal year, not the calendar year. Donations from current families range from $5 to $50,000+. Every donation is equally important and a true show of support and appreciation for Taft’s faculty and staff. You can mail a check or contribute online by credit card, Venmo (@Taft1890), or PayPal at taftschool.org/give. Please contact Joyce Romano '92, P'14, Taft’s Director of Parent Giving at 860-945-7749 or joyceromano@taftschool.org, if you would like to donate securities or transfer funds via wire. Pledges are welcome but must be honored by June 30, 2024.

What is a matching gift?

Many companies offer matching gift programs to employees and their families, allowing individual gifts to be doubled, and sometimes tripled. All matching gifts are credited directly to you. To find out if your company has a matching gift program, please enter your employer's name below. If you do not see your employer listed, ask your Human Resources department if they offer a matching gift program. Please submit your completed matching gift form to the Advancement Office using the address or email below. If you have any questions, please call our office at 800-959-8238.

The Taft School
Attn: Anna Kasperuk
110 Woodbury Road
Watertown, CT 06795

akasperuk@taftschool.org

Give Now View 2022-23 Results and Class Awards

Parents' Fund Chairs

Jane and Chris Hentemann will once again lead the Parents' Fund with the help from the Parents’ Committee. Jane and Chris are the parents of three Tafties: Henry, Emma, and Patrick. Jane and Chris have been part of the Taft community for nine years, and members of the Parents' Committee for the past seven. You will surely see them at events both on and off campus, including the upcoming Fall Family Weekend (October 27-28), the first family event on campus this year. The Hentemanns—and all of our Parents' Committee members—look forward to connecting with you. GO BIG RED!

*The Hentemann Family, from left: Henry '19, Jane, Emma '21, Chris, Patrick '24*

In This Section

The Founders Society

Horace D. Taft Circle: $100,000 and above

Winifred T. Taft Circle: $50,000—$99,999

Head of School Circle: $25,000—$49,999

Non ut Sibi Circle: $10,000—$24,999

Red & Blue Circle: $5,000—$9,999

1890 Circle: $1,890—$4,999

Rhino Circle:
1st-5th Reunion: $250+
6th-10th Reunion: $500+

Don't miss the opportunity to DOUBLE or TRIPLE your donation and increase your impact. Matching gifts are credited directly to you.

Ask your employer if they offer a matching gift program.

**Taft needs the Gift ID from your employer to credit you with a matching gift. Please send Gift ID information to AKasperuk@taftschool.org.