FAQs

The GSB Fund, our annual giving program, is vital to the mission of Gill St. Bernard’s School and makes an immediate impact on our students all day, every day. Today’s students and faculty rely on consistent annual participation from each and every community member to sustain the hallmarks of a GSB education.

An unrestricted gift to the GSB Fund helps the school most because it shows that you trust and believe in our mission and gives the school the freedom to place the money where, in the wisdom of the board, it will serve the best purpose. Or you may be inspired to designate your annual fund gift to where your passion lies or in the area that means the most to you. Either way, your gift signifies the trust you have in our outstanding faculty to inspire our students all day, every day.

Gifts to The GSB Fund support:

• Financial Aid
• Faculty Development
• Athletics
• Academic Curriculum Initiatives
• Home Winds Farm
• Visual and Performing Arts
• Student Health and Well-being

There are many ways to make a gift to the school. To review your options please learn more about our ways to give and, of course, contact Heather Truscinski (908-234-1611, ext. 0210) in the Office of Institutional Advancement at any time to get more information.

Cash and Pledges – Gifts and pledge payments can be made by cash, check, credit card, and/or through the transfer of stocks and securities. Payment online is convenient and accessible on our website. The GSB Fund annually runs July 1 through June 30.

Gifts-in-Kind – Tangible items, such as equipment and supplies are considered gifts-in-kind when given to the School or sold to the School at a discount. Every year, numerous gifts, small and large, fall into this category. Gifts-in-kind are tax deductible and donors are recognized in the Annual Report on Philanthropy. For questions, please contact Director of Advancement Heather Truscinski, 908-234-1611, ext. 0210 or at htruscinski@gsbschool.org.

Everyone in the GSB school community —trustees, faculty and staff, alumni, parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, and friends of the School—is asked to contribute. Each fall we appeal to our community members to make a gift or pledge payable by June 30. 

Absolutely! Participation is key to a successful year. Every gift is valued and vital. Your contribution makes a strong statement of support and may lead to gifts from other individuals, foundations, or corporations.

Gifts are accepted year round and do not need to be made at any particular time. The school’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. For tax purposes, gifts made on or before December 31 are eligible to be claimed for a tax deduction when filing for that same year.

Simply put, as with most independent schools, tuition does not cover the cost of a GSB education. This year, 89% of the School’s operating budget is funded with tuition dollars. The rest is funded through tax-deductible giving and investment income. A gap of $4,000 per child is not covered by tuition. That difference must be met through fundraising for the GSB Fund. Additionally, expenses such as construction and improvement of facilities and capital assets are not funded by tuition.

That’s right. Tuition does not cover the cost of running Gill St. Bernard’s School. Contributions to the GSB Fund make up the difference needed to cover the actual cost of operating the school. Augmenting tuition through charitable gifts helps keep tuition at a competitive rate and provides many important programs and improvements that are essential to our mission. 

Unrestricted gifts provide GSB with the greatest amount of financial flexibility, in turn allowing the school to fund its most pressing needs. Tuition only covers 90% of the true cost of a GSB education. The GSB Fund support helps bridge the gap, allowing our students to excel.

It really does. In some way, every aspect of school life is backed by the GSB Fund. Everything from salaries to scholarships, from team equipment to test-tubes, is provided in part by gifts to the GSB Fund. Financially speaking, the generosity of GSB Fund donors supports every student. Every gift, every year, makes the difference.

Each gift supports current year programming. We ask that our community members to participate in a way that is meaningful for their family. Last year the GSB Fund raised approximately $1,000,000. The average parent gift was $1,750, and parent contributions accounted for 52% of the GSB Fund total. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated, for every gift serves to amplify the next. Remember, a gift of $25 pays for an online subscription to National Geographic Magazine, or a gift of $5 buys a teacher a set of white-board markers. GSB is truly grateful for every gift.

Contributions of $1,000 or more to the GSB Fund are considered Leadership Gifts, and donors at that level become members of the Vita Society, recognizing members of the GSB community who are making an extraordinary commitment to the school. Such gifts made up 90% of the GSB Fund last year.

Yes, Gill St. Bernard's School is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and every gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please see your tax advisor for more detailed information.

Endowment gifts are unique in that rather than simply being used to fund something in the present, they are instead invested for future growth and development. Like a savings account, funds in an Endowment continue to grow and the interest on these funds are then used to support the school while the principal remains intact. Endowment gifts help to ensure the financial stability of the school for years to come and are a wonderful addition to an unrestricted gift. Call Heather Truscinski at 908-234-1611, ext. 0210 to learn more about making an endowed gift.

While monetary gifts to the school are crucial, GSB would not be able to do all it does without the many wonderful volunteers helping out every day on and off campus. Please visit our volunteer page to see all our current opportunities. To learn more about how you can get involved, contact:

Jennifer Doherty

Director of Parent Relations and Special Events

908-234-1611, Ext. 219

jdoherty@gsbschool.org

Heather Truscinski

Director of Advancement

908-234-1611, ext. 0210

htruscinski@gsbschool.org

Katrina Musto

Director of Alumni Relations

908-234-1611, ext. 292

kmusto@gsbschool.org

Jennifer Doherty

Director of Parent Relations and Special Events

908-234-1611, ext. 219

jdoherty@gsbschool.org