Development FAQ

Q. Why does Jesuit High School ask for contributions?
A. Jesuit High School is a non-profit school and receives no financial support from local, state, or federal sources. Founded and operated by the Society of Jesus, Jesuit High School is not supported by the Archdiocese of Portland or any of its parishes. Tuition income, charitable gifts and other fundraising make up the yearly operating budget. Donations provide for the excellence that is the hallmark of a Jesuit education.

Q. Does Jesuit High School receive corporate support?
A. Jesuit High School does not have direct corporate sponsorship. Many individuals who donate to Jesuit High School ask their employers to match their donations. This kind of corporate support makes a significant contribution as it can double or triple the size of gifts to Jesuit. Please contact your employer’s Human Resources Department for information on matching gifts to schools. Jesuit High School is extremely grateful to have this support. In addition to matching gifts, many corporations have given funds to support Jesuit programs and projects which are funded outside of the normal operating budget.

Q. What areas does Jesuit High School target for fund raising?
A. Jesuit High School raises funds in three major areas: Annual, Endowment, and Capital.

Q. Doesn’t tuition cover the annual budget needs?
A. Because Jesuit High School honors the spirit of St. Ignatius we charge tuition less than the actual cost, and grant financial aid to those in need. Therefore, tuition and fees provide approximately 81% of the annual budget. This creates a need to “cover the gap” between tuition payments and the actual cost of a Jesuit High School education.

Q. How is this “gap” funded?
A. The annual budget expenses are met due to the generosity of many from these sources: Family Partnership (gifts above tuition), Live Auction Gala, Financial Aid Luncheon, Annual Appeal, and Student Fundraiser.

Q. What is Family Partnership (gifts above tuition)?
A. The Family Partnership Program provides families the opportunity to pay the actual cost of education for their children while making a tax-deductible donation. Family support through this program represents a significant source of revenue for the school's annual fund and helps meet critical operating needs, including financial aid for students and families most in need. Families who make a gift above tuition of $2,600 or more become members of the President's Club and receive a Green and Gold President's Pass to JHS home athletic events and an invitation to the President's Appreciation Event.

Q. What events can I attend to support Jesuit’s annual budget?
A. There are several annual events. The largest fundraising event at Jesuit High School is our Annual Auction. The Live Auction Gala is featured the first Saturday in May. This event is an elegant evening in the Knight Center with a number of selective silent auction items, sit down dinner and live auction to follow. In addition, Jesuit hosts the annual Financial Aid Luncheon to provide direct support to the one in four students at Jesuit High School who qualify for financial assistance. You can support these events by attending and making a voluntary meaningful contribution.

Q. What is the Annual Appeal?
A. The Annual Appeal consists of a direct mail campaign to ask for your support and involvement in school fundraising programs. Direct mail letters are sent to alumni, past parents, and friends of Jesuit High School. Donations to the Annual Appeal support all aspects of each year’s operating budget.

Q. What is Capital giving?
A. Capital Giving refers to gifts that build and support the physical plant at Jesuit High School. We believe that outstanding facilities are a means of reaching higher levels of learning. From the first door to door appeal approved by Fr. Henry, J. Schultheis, S.J. to build Jesuit High School to the present day, all funds for capital building projects must be raised separately from our annual operating budget.

Q. What is the Endowment Fund?
A. The Endowment Fund is a permanent fund that compounds with interest and dividends. The principal is never touched and a small percentage of earnings, currently 4.5%, are used to support the annual operating budget. The endowment represents not only an investment in the future, but a belief that our students will change the future for the better. A strong endowment will ensure that we carry out, in perpetuity, our mission. Our challenge is to increase our endowment in order to control tuition increases, provide financial aid to need based students, and keep Jesuit affordable for all qualified students now and in the future.

Q. What is the value of Jesuit’s endowment?
A. In 1984 the endowment was approximately $630,000. As of June 30, 2013 (the end of Jesuit’s fiscal year), the value of the endowment fund for Jesuit High School was $31,908,509 and the value of the endowment for the Jesuit High School Foundation was $3,756,115; making a total of $35,664,624 of endowment funds.

Q. What is the Jesuit High School Foundation?
A. The Jesuit High School Foundation was created in 2009 as an Oregon public benefit corporation under the Oregon Non-Profit Corporation Act. It is an independent legal entity that is not owned or managed by Jesuit High School. The foundation’s purpose is to enhance the religious, charitable, educational and literary purposes of Jesuit High School while also recognizing the specific wishes and intentions of any given donor.

Q. What is the Student Fundraiser?
A. Once a year, Jesuit High School students participate in a fundraising project by writing letters to family and friends asking for financial support for their school. This effort allows students to participate in the responsibility we share to support Jesuit High School and funds many student initiated programs and activities throughout the year.

Q. How can I give?
A. Jesuit High School gratefully appreciates gifts of all amounts. Your gift – of any amount – helps us support our mission. Donations can be made in cash, check, credit card, stock, property, bequests or other estate planning methods.Gifts can be made with a credit card online via our secure server. Donors may pledge at any time and determine how they wish to pay the pledge over a time period. Jesuit High School reports donations in our annual report according to our fiscal year, July 1-June 30.