Navigation

Saint Mary's Annual Fund

The Annual Fund is Saint Mary's foundation of philanthropy.

Annual Fund gifts from alumnae, parents, grandparents, friends, community partners, students, and faculty and staff are a vital source of revenue. While all gifts to Saint Mary's are important and appreciated, annual gifts are received and spent in the same year and have an immediate impact on the things that makes Saint Mary's special – scholarships, great teaching and faculty excellence, beautiful facilities, advancements in technology, and unique programs. 

Unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund give Saint Mary's the flexibility and security to pivot when new ideas and opportunities arise, as well as to cover any funding gaps that arise unexpectedly, allowing us to continue to meet our most strategic goals. Donations to the Annual Fund go to work immediately in core programs to support students and faculty as well as academic and residential facilities that are inherently part of the Saint Mary's experience. Donations to the Annual Fund are relied upon to bridge the gap between endowment income, tuition, and other sources of revenue, and the actual cost of the School’s total operating expenses. 

To make your annual gift to Saint Mary's Annual Fund, click here, or to participate in one of our days of giving, select from the opportunities below. 

#AllSaintsDay

#GivingTuesday

#ValentinesDay

Disclaimer: Some images of our campus community without masks are pre-COVID-19 related photos.


 

 

 

Our LEGACY. Her FUTURE.

Saint Mary’s Annual Fund is critical to ensuring our mission endures. Because tuition alone cannot support the annual cost of operating a 24/7 boarding/day school, it is Saint Mary’s Annual Fund which provides the funding needed to balance the operating budget each year not covered by endowment income, tuition, or other sources of revenue. Learn more here.

 


What does the Annual Fund support?

Saint Mary’s Annual Fund supports:

  • Students by providing additional financial aid dollar
  • Programs that are comprehensive and immersive
  • Athletics by funding 11 sports competing in more than 200 games and matches annually
  • Arts to fund more than 25 performing and visual arts events
  • Technology to sustain a 1:1 program for campus-wide tech upgrades
  • People through the recruiting, hiring and retaining of faculty and staff and sustaining an 8:1 student to faculty ratio

Saint Mary’s Annual Fund also supports the maintenance of Saint Mary’s 27 buildings and 23 acres, health and wellness programs, the Chapel program, service-learning experiences, community-wide activities, campus events, and student clubs and organizations.

Annual Fund Girls Icon SIZED

  STUDENTS

 

Annual Fund Programs Icon SIZED

 PROGRAMS

 

Annual Fund Athletics Icon SIZED

 ATHLETICS

 

Annual Fund Arts Icon SIZED

      ARTS

 

Annual Fund Technology Icon SIZED

       TECH

 

Annual Fund People Icon

   PEOPLE

 


 

Where do the funds come from?

Last fiscal year, 19% of alumnae contributed $1.1 million to Saint Mary’s Annual Fund, which provided 70% of the total raised. Saint Mary's families (70% of parents and 33% of grandparents) contributed nearly $300,000. Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees, Alumnae Council, Board of Visitors, and our faculty and staff also give to Saint Mary’s, along with friends, businesses, and foundations in our community. 

By the Numbers

Annual Fund By the Numbers Graphic Fall 2020

 

Your gift to Saint Mary's Annual Fund supports every aspect of every girl's Saint Mary's experience. Every gift, no matter the size, makes an impact because YOU are providing the resources they need.

Trio of Saint Mary's students

 


Why Saint Mary’s?

Over the years, we’ve heard countless stories that capture the “why” for thousands of Saint Mary’s graduates. Some alumnae chose Saint Mary’s, while others say Saint Mary’s chose them. Parents, grandparents, friends, and community partners also choose Saint Mary’s when they decide to invest in our programs and the Annual Fund. As you ponder your own “why,” know that the heart and soul of your reasons connect you to today’s students who have also chosen Saint Mary’s. (Learn more by clicking on each graphic below.)

Annual Fund Sue Battle Moore Quote

 

Annual Fund Sarah Anne Hamilton Quote

 

Annual Fund Jeannine Eason Brown Quote

 

Annual Fund Alex Marshall-Brown Quote

 

Annual Fund Winston Cobb Green Quote

 

Annual Fund June Gunter Quote

 


 

Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Mary’s Annual Fund 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Do you have questions about
Saint Mary’s Annual Fund?
Want to get involved?
Interested in joining the
Giving Circle Program or
want to make a leadership gift?

CONTACT:

Eileen Nedoma
Director of Annual Fund and Major Gifts
919-424-4118
enedoma@sms.edu


What's the VISION 20/21 Campaign?

Donors play a very important part in helping ensure Saint Mary's mission endures for our students and the Saint Mary's girls of tomorrow. This year, we launched our VISION 20/21 Annual Fund campaign began on July 1, and represents great ideas for the future and the evolution of "Our LEGACY. Her FUTURE."  Our mission is as relevant today as it was in 1842. Now, in our 179th academic year, we reflect on our history and honor our alumnae legacy and those leaders who helped propel Saint Mary's forward through generations. Yet, much remains to be accomplished, and donors like YOU can be a part of this next phase of growth in support of Saint Mary's time-honored mission. Our goal  is to raise $1.55MM for fiscal year 2021 by June 30. Gifts of all sizes make an impact, and we need every supporter to consider increasing their family gift to help us meet our goal and provide the critical funding to continue offering an outstanding academic experience our students need, in an Episcopal community fortified by sound principles of honor, integrity, civility, and fellowship. 

Make your gift today at www.sms.edu/give.

Annual Fund Giving Societies

For 179 years, Saint Mary’s has been a leader in the education of girls and young women. For a saint Mary’s girl, preparing for the future is about learning to lead. That visionary spirit gave birth to the school in 1842 and has sustained us through the generosity of benefactors who believe in our mission. The success of Saint Mary’s Annual Fund depends on gifts above and beyond the average giving level. Leadership gifts provided 77% of total dollars raised in 2019-20. 

ADDITIONAL GIVING LEVELS

The Order of the Grove $500 - $999 
Smedes Associates $499 and under 

 

Leadership Levels

Founder's Club $25,000+ 
The Oak Society $10,000 - $24,999 
The Saint Mary's Society $5,000 - $9,999 
The Bishop's Society $2,500 - $4,999 
The 1842 Society $1,842 - 2,4999 
The Cornerstone Society $1,000 - $1,841 

 

Giving Circle Logo

Saint Mary's Giving Circle Program

Saint Mary’s has a large and loyal alumnae body of nearly 9,500 living alumnae. Saint Mary’s Annual Fund Giving Circle program was launched in Fiscal Year 2016 to (1) increase alumnae leadership giving to Saint Mary’s Annual Fund and thereby increase overall annual unrestricted support; and (2) leverage the potential of alumnae joining together to support the second largest revenue source for the school. On September 16, 2015, Saint Mary’s first alumna joined the Giving Circles. As each member joined thereafter, they agreed to commit to sustaining their personal annual giving at a leadership level for a period of three years; assist with cultivating other alumnae; and meet quarterly.

 

Giving Circles as of FY20

Total Gift Over 3 Years # Members Amt Per Year
$10,000 2 $3,334
$15,000 10 $5,000
$20,000 2 $6,666
$25,000 1 $8,333
$30,000 3 $10,000
$45,000 2 $15,000+
$75,000+ 2 $25,000+