FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About the Eckstein Annual Campaign
Q. Why are Annual Campaign funds important to every child at Eckstein?
A. Your donation is important because Eckstein is a very large school and district funding is based on a fixed formula, not on the number of students in the school. This means that Eckstein receives less money per student than every other middle school and nearly every high school in the city. The Eckstein Annual Fund fills in the gaps where district funding falls short of supporting the 1,200+ students at Eckstein.
Keeping class sizes small is a high priority at Eckstein, so the school has historically used district funding to ensure adequate staffing before allocating funds to other expenses. This means that funds raised through the Annual Campaign are important for providing the most basic supplies for the classrooms and for the school: books, paper, pencils, printer cartridges, white boards, markers for the white boards, construction paper, tape and all the basic supplies that help teachers provide a quality learning environment for every student.
Q. I came from an elementary school where all the fund-raising was done through the PTSA. How does the Annual Campaign funding differ from PTSA and ASB (Magazine Sale) donations here at Eckstein?
The Eckstein Annual Campaign is the primary fund-raising arm of the Eckstein PTSA and the primary source for academic needs at Eckstein: books, supplies, and specific departmental requests not met by school district funds–virtually every department, from music to science, benefits from your Annual Campaign donation. It’s also the source for building improvements that otherwise are not possible at Eckstein to help facilitate a positive learning community. Some examples of improvements are computer wiring, paint, carpeting and furniture for the library; refinishing of the gymnasium floor, repainting the auditorium, and refurbishing some portable classrooms.
ASB income from the Magazine Sale goes to student extra-curricular programs, and direct PTSA donations at Eckstein are largely geared to communication with parents (newsletter, email management system), support for special events such as REACH night, 8th grade graduation, and other forms of hospitality and volunteer support. The PTSA also offers up to a $200 grant for each teacher for specific classroom supply requests.
Q. Our family budget is tight this year. Will my gift really make a difference?
A. Absolutely. We have two goals this year — to have at least 500 Eckstein families participate in the Annual Campaign, and to raise a minimum of $75,000, with a stretch goal of $100,000. Donations of all sizes are welcome. Last year, contributions ranged from $10 to $2,000, with an average donation of $220. Last year, seventeen $10.00 gifts purchased lab tools for the Science department. Your gift of any size really does matter!
Q. How can I make a donation to the campaign?
A. You have several options. You can write a check, made payable to the Alliance for Education–Eckstein, and mail to Eckstein Annual Campaign, 3003 NE 75th St., Seattle, WA 98115. You may also donate online through the secure Alliance for Education website (https://www314.safesecureweb.com/alliance4ed/) using your Visa or Mastercard. Please indicate that your donation is for the Eckstein Annual Campaign in the An Individual School text box so that your donation will be properly credited to this fundraiser.
Q. My workplace holds an annual workplace giving campaign. Can I specify a donation to Eckstein?
Yes, you can support Eckstein by designating your pledge to the Alliance for Education–Eckstein. Make sure you earmark Eckstein on your pledge. In addition, many companies offer matching gift programs and will match your pledge to Eckstein, dollar for dollar. Please check with your company for details.
Q. Is my Eckstein Annual Campaign donation tax-deductible?
Yes, the Alliance for Education will send you a thank you letter which also serves as a tax-receipt for your records.
THANK YOU!
