ANNUAL FUND
At Cheshire Academy, we’re all in! 100% of CA’s faculty, staff, trustees, and leadership team, along with countless alumni, families, and friends are all in to support Cheshire Academy through the Annual Fund. Each gift — no matter the amount — instills confidence in our school community, allowing our students to meet the challenge of becoming thoughtful global citizens in today’s world.
The Annual Fund is essential to ensuring an exceptional experience for all students. Gifts to the Annual Fund allow the school to deliver programs and opportunities for students and faculty beyond what is covered by tuition, and have a direct impact on the everyday student experience.
From CA’s greatest needs to specialty areas such as the arts, athletics, financial aid, faculty support, technology enhancements, diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives, and everything in between, the Annual Fund is there to make it happen.
Let’s be all in together, ensuring CA continues to exceed its reputation of delivering an excellent education and being a school that you can take pride in supporting.
For more information or to discuss your gift, please contact Director of Annual Giving Sasha Russell at 203-439-7224.
FAQs
What is the Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund is essential to ensuring an exceptional experience for all students. Gifts to the Annual Fund allow the school to deliver programs and opportunities for students and faculty beyond what is covered by tuition. Your gift to the Annual Fund has a direct impact on the everyday student experience. From CA’s greatest needs to specialty areas such as the arts, athletics, financial aid, faculty support, technology enhancements, diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives, and everything in between, the Annual Fund is there to make it happen.
What different areas of the Annual Fund can you support?
You can designate your Annual Fund gift to an area for which you are most passionate, including CA’s greatest needs, financial aid, arts, athletics, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), faculty support, and technology enhancements.
But families pay tuition – why is the Annual Fund needed?
Being a non-profit independent school, Cheshire Academy does not receive financial support from local or federal taxes. While tuition income covers a large part of the expenses of running a boarding and day school, it does not cover everything. The Annual Fund bridges the gap between tuition revenue and remaining operational costs – including, but not limited to, financial aid and student programing.
What is a matching gift?
Matching gifts are offered by many corporations to encourage employees to make charitable contributions to eligible institutions, like Cheshire Academy. You may have an opportunity to double, or potentially even triple your financial support to CA. Gifts from spouses or retirees may also be eligible for a match. Check by searching your company’s name below, with your human resources office, or call the Academy at 203-439-7224 to learn more about matching gift opportunities.
What is an Endowment Fund?
Endowment funds are invested monies that generate income based on interest rates. As the principal of the fund grows, so does the available income. This income is then used for financial aid or other areas of support needed by the school. The most common example of an endowed fund is a scholarship fund. As the endowment grows, so does the available income – and the principal never falters. Though important, an endowment gift is not a gift to the Annual Fund.
What is Capital Giving?
Capital funding supports large-scale projects that help to enhance the CA experience. Most often these projects are building-based, however, capital giving can also strengthen our endowment. Simosa Field and the upcoming new building project are examples of capital giving opportunities. To learn more about making a gift in support of an upcoming capital project, please call Barbara Davis, interim chief advancement officer, at (203) 439-7228.
What is the difference between the Annual Fund and capital/endowed giving?
In the simplest terms, the Annual Fund helps us today, and capital funds help us build for our tomorrows. Cheshire Academy’s Annual Fund is used to supplement day-to-day operations and expenses that directly benefit the education and growth of our students, while capital funds provide the resources for CA to continue to grow and offer state-of-the-art facilities and programs necessary for a 21st century student.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes! Being a non-profit independent school, it’s possible that your gift to Cheshire Academy is tax-deductible. We encourage you to consult your tax preparer regarding the tax-deductibility of your contribution. Keep in mind, gifts to the Annual Fund correspond with CA’s fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30.
Ways to Give
There are many ways to make a gift to Cheshire Academy. The most common way to give is via our online form or through the Venmo app: @CheshireAcademy. Please see below for additional ways to make your contribution (check, stock, wire), as well as to learn more about planned giving at CA. Your support goes a long way and positively impacts the CA student experience. For more information or to make your gift over the phone, please contact Barbara Vestergaard at 203-439-7408.
Giving Online
Online gifts can be made by credit card by visiting the Cheshire Academy website
Accepted credit cards are Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
Through Venmo
On your mobile device, use the Venmo app. and:
@CheshireAcademy
Gifts by Mail
Checks should be made payable to Cheshire Academy with a notation indicating the designation of the gift. Checks can be mailed to:
Cheshire Academy
Office of Advancement
10 Main Street
Cheshire, CT 06410
Cheshire Academy
Office of Advancement
10 Main Street
Cheshire, CT 06410
Gifts by Telephone
Gifts can be made over the phone by credit card (Visa, American Express, or MasterCard) by calling 203-439-7408.
IRA Rollover
Under federal tax law, a donor aged 70½ or older may make charitable distributions directly from his or her IRA to Cheshire Academy without incurring taxable income. The gift must come directly from the donor’s IRA administrator to the Academy and can satisfy all or some portion of the required minimum distribution for the year. While there is no charitable deduction for such a gift, the donor avoids payment of income tax on the required minimum distribution that would otherwise be paid to him or her. The total of an individual’s rollover gifts in any one calendar year cannot exceed $100,000.
Stock
Securities can be transferred using the following instructions:
DTC #: 0221
UBS Financial Services
Cheshire Academy Account # JJ 25624 1 RN
Account Name: Cheshire Academy
Contact: Barbara Alton,
Senior Client Services Associate
Tel. 800-225-2385 ext. 8541
IMPORTANT NOTE: When initiating a transfer, in order to credit the gift properly, please call Cheshire Academy with the name of stock, number of shares, and donor name.
Barbara Vestergaard
203-439-7408 barbara.vestergaard@cheshireacademy.org
DTC #: 0221
UBS Financial Services
Cheshire Academy Account # JJ 25624 1 RN
Account Name: Cheshire Academy
Contact: Barbara Alton,
Senior Client Services Associate
Tel. 800-225-2385 ext. 8541
IMPORTANT NOTE: When initiating a transfer, in order to credit the gift properly, please call Cheshire Academy with the name of stock, number of shares, and donor name.
Barbara Vestergaard
203-439-7408 barbara.vestergaard@cheshireacademy.org
Planned Giving
Learn how donors like you are creating their legacies at Cheshire Academy. Click here to learn more.
Cash Wire
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Prior to making a gift by cash wire transfer, to ensure proper credit and handling, please notify the Advancement Office by calling (203) 439-7408. Be sure to put NBT Bank as the beneficiary and further credit to Cheshire Academy.
NBT Bank, N.A.
52 South Broad Street
Norwich, NY 13815
Routing Transit Number: 021303618
CA Account No.: 521360537
International Wire Transfer: ACBB-Routing No.: 021303618 SWIFT/BIC: NBTNUS31
Beneficiary: NBT Bank Account #1024
Credit to Cheshire Academy Account No.: 521360537
Prior to making a gift by cash wire transfer, to ensure proper credit and handling, please notify the Advancement Office by calling (203) 439-7408. Be sure to put NBT Bank as the beneficiary and further credit to Cheshire Academy.
NBT Bank, N.A.
52 South Broad Street
Norwich, NY 13815
Routing Transit Number: 021303618
CA Account No.: 521360537
International Wire Transfer: ACBB-Routing No.: 021303618 SWIFT/BIC: NBTNUS31
Beneficiary: NBT Bank Account #1024
Credit to Cheshire Academy Account No.: 521360537
Matching Gifts
Matching gifts are offered by many corporations to encourage employees to make charitable contributions to eligible institutions, like Cheshire Academy. You may have an opportunity to double, or potentially even triple your financial support to CA. Gifts from spouses or retirees may also be eligible for a match. Check by searching your company’s name below, with your human resources office, or call the Academy at 203-439-7688 to learn more about matching gift opportunities. Thank you!
Giving Societies
Founder’s Circle
Gifts of $50,000 or more
Bowden League
Gifts of $25,000-$49,999
Bronson Fellows
Gifts of $10,000-$24,999
Arthur Sheriff Guild
Gifts of $5,000-$9,999
Roxbury Associates
Gifts of $2,500-$4,999
1794 Circle
Gifts of $1,794-$2,499
Academy Circle Benefactor
Gifts of $1,000-$1,793
Academy Circle Ambassador
Gifts of $500-$999
