Q: My family already pays tuition.  Why should I donate my money?

A: We maintain a $1,400 gap between tuition and the true cost to educate our students.  In 2011-2012, the parish will contribute $1,000 per student leaving a $400 per student gap to be made up through gifts.

We ask all school families to consider making a tax-deductible gift to the school rather than charging more tuition which is not tax-deductible.

Q: Why doesn't SVdP charge the full cost of my child's education and not ask for gifts?

A: The Board of Trustees is committed to keeping tuition as reasonable as possible to make a Catholic education accessible to our parish families.  In fact, SVdP has one of the lowest tuition rates of comparable Houston independent schools.  And unlike tuition payments, financial gifts to SVdP are 100% tax-deductible.

Q: What exactly does my gift to the Annual Fund support?

A: All gifts to the SVdP Annual Fund go directly to the School and may only be used for our core operational expenses.  A gift to the SVdP Annual Fund is a gift to the School, not the Parish. 

Close to 70% of our operating expenses is used for the salaries and benefits of our teachers.  The remaining 30% goes towards facilities (15%), Auxiliary programs (7%), classroom instructional materials (5%) and administrative costs (3%).  All gifts to the Annual Fund support our core needs and make a difference to our students this year. 

Q: How much should we give?

A: Keep in mind the $400 per student gap for 2011-2012 when thinking about your gift.  We know not all families are able to give a gift of that size to the school, so only you can decide what amount is right for your family.  The only gift that is too small is not gift at all! 

We ask that you remember that your gift, along with those of all our donors, will directly enhance your child's education. We hope every member of our SVdP community will participate with a gift of any amount.

Q: How much of a difference can my gift really make?

A: By nature, SVdP is a small community with 330 current families.  Our pool of supporters is naturally smaller which makes every financial gift count even more.

We aim for 100% participation from current parents, board members and faculty and staff in our Annual Fund.  High participation is a vote of confidence and a sign of investing in our children and support of the School's mission.  This high participation rate has a positive effect on support from outside sources, like foundations and businesses.

Q: How do I make a gift?

A: You may give by check (made out to SVdP and add "Annual Fund" to the memo line) or online by credit card.  Our online giving page will be up in August 22, 2011. 

Contact Elisabeth Yoder at 713-663-3567 or eyoder@svdp-edu.org with questions.