Endowment
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Understanding Endowment
At schools like Athenian, tuition will never provide the sole funding necessary to support the variety of academic and co-curricular offerings provided. This is true of virtually all independent schools, which traditionally rely on the steadiness of a strong endowment to provide the financial stability for long-term success. Athenian's endowment is significantly lower than that of many comparable schools locally and nationally.
The School adheres to a policy of spending only a small, fixed percentage of the endowment fund's liquid assets annually. The remaining assets are reinvested, and the principal is never touched. The endowment funds thus become long-term savings and investment accounts, providing regenerating resources — resources that can be directed to the funding priorities of The Pillar Campaign: faculty salaries and professional development, student financial aid, and curriculum and program enrichment.
With a long-term goal of having sufficient endowment to provide five percent of Athenian's annual operating budget, Athenian will focus on steadily growing the endowment in stages, raising both current contributions to endowment while also encouraging donors to make bequests and/or other planned gifts to Athenian's endowment. The school's Board of Trustees will ensure that earnings generated year after year from endowment will support the day-to-day work of the school, while the principal grows to support Athenian's future.
ENDOWMENT TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
Athenian students share similar traits: great minds, good hearts and the leadership potential to change the world. They also share something else — a wide array of economic, cultural, ethnic and geographic backgrounds.
Diversity within the student community is reflective of Athenian's mission, and the school eagerly seeks students from throughout the Bay Area and around the world, believing, fundamentally, that diversity and inclusion are more than social principles — they are educational imperatives. Founder Dyke Brown first envisioned a pluralistic community at Athenian — and its continuation is critical to the educational experience of each student. Today, his vision is realized with Athenian’s international students representing more than a dozen countries and with ten percent of the Upper School student body coming from outside the United States. More than 35 percent of Athenian students are people of color. Most Athenian students come from outside the Danville area. Twenty percent of current students receive some form of financial aid.
To build an economically diverse student community, tuition assistance is essential. The availability of financial aid facilitates the wonderful synergy between tremendous students — whatever their background — and Athenian. It also enriches the educational atmosphere for all students. Early in life, students benefit from experiencing the various people, settings and situations that will help them to thrive in an increasingly diverse world.
Additional support for financial aid will transform the lives of outstanding students and allow Athenian to accept and enroll exceptional students whose potential is limited only by financial resources.
ENDOWMENT TO SUPPORT CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
At the heart of an Athenian education is an innovative and enriching curriculum. The school's strategic planning process identified potential new course offerings, and the enthusiasm is remarkable as faculty members explore ideas for new courses and programs. Increased funding in curriculum development would enable programs to be added and expanded, enriching the student experience.
Named Endowed Classroom: While Athenian's intimate class size fosters positive relationships as catalysts for learning, the physical spaces could have room for improvement as learning environments. Science classrooms need new equipment for labs, and both the Athenian Wilderness Experience and athletics require updated equipment. A named gift to endow a classroom would directly respond to these needs, transforming campus classrooms to match the quality of instruction.
The Athenian Wilderness Experience Endowed Fund: The Athenian Wilderness Experience (AWE) grew out of a friendship and shared commitment to outdoor adventure between Athenian founder, Dyke Brown, and Outward Bound founder, Kurt Hahn. AWE provides a unique context for character development within an outdoor classroom that cultivates an appreciation for environmental stewardship. All current Athenian students must complete AWE as a graduation requirement. Ultimately, the goal of AWE is to have each student realize the power and meaning of Kurt Hahn’s message of human potential: "There is more in you than you think." AWE is incredibly demanding but infinitely rewarding, with many graduates calling it the most defining and powerful aspect of their Athenian education.
ENDOWMENT TO SUPPORT EXISTING FUNDS
The Athenian School has several important endowment funds in place that were created by generous donors. Some examples are the Dyke Brown Scholarship Fund, the Kate Brown Scholarship Fund, the E.E. Ford Fund (educational support for students from traditionally underserved public schools); the Walter A. Holt Fund (financial aid to students who could not otherwise afford to attend Athenian); and the Kurt Hahn Fund (financial aid for students who cannot afford the fees associated with AWE). Each of these funds would benefit from additional gifts.
ENDOWMENT TO SUPPORT FACULTY
Imagine feeling eager to come to school each day. Not just willing, but excited to be there. That's how students feel about Athenian. Classes are small, averaging 15 students, and the learning environment is stimulating and interactive. Formal lectures are rare; instead, teachers facilitate discussions and debate and student-directed exploration. First-class faculty serve as architects of memorable, transforming educational experiences, and they are the hallmark of any great school.
Athenian's talented, diverse and committed faculty demonstrate profound dedication to the intellectual and personal growth of students. Yet, Athenian's faculty compensation struggles to remain competitive with comparable schools. Increased support for faculty salaries is vital for faculty retention and key to providing the highest quality educational program for students.
Research shows that professional development is also a key factor in faculty retention, and while the school's professional development funding has increased in recent years, more is needed for training and sabbaticals. Professional development opportunities refine teaching skills and expand knowledge, helping to shape and contribute to an innovative curriculum.
Most importantly, endowed gifts designated to support faculty salaries and professional development pay tribute to a precious human resource — the talented and committed Athenian teachers who shape the student experience.
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