Development

A Word From Our Development Director, Randy Hoover

What is the Purpose of Fund Raising?

Kingsway Christian School has been providing a Christian Education since 1977. We’ve grown from 25 students and 4 teachers to over 630 students and 50+ teachers and support staff. We started with a few classrooms and around 500 square feet to over 30 classrooms with educational space over 90,000 square feet. Through it all, there have been no signs of slowing down.

But what about the future? What would happen if a financial slowdown hit the Indianapolis - Avon area? What about a national recession? Would Kingsway Christian School be able to withstand a financial crunch and still be able to provide a quality Christian education? Would KCS even be able to continue? In times of financial need, one of the first things to get cut from many family budgets is Christian education. There are several reasons for school development, and all of them have to do with the future and continued existence of the school.

From promotional to financial issues, to areas of information and tracking, everything a development person and department does is to insure the continuation and growth of the parent entity. Our goal at KCS is not only to develop a year-to-year stability, but also long range foundation which will assure that a solid Christian education will still be available to anyone who desires it, even through and after times of hardship. From community service, family & staff unity and yearly fund raisers, to long-term endowments and corporate underwriting, everything is designed to build and strengthen the school program and family unity.

"Fund Raising Is More Than Just Selling Candy Bars"

I’m often asked, "Why Fund Raising?" As a ministry of Kingsway Christian Church, Kingsway Christian School's mission is to provide an excellent education in all areas of life and try to make it available to as many families as possible who wish to join in this mission.

According to newspaper reports*, in the 2000-'01 school year, Indiana public school systems spent between $4,468 and $8,112 to educate each student. In an effort to make an excellent Christian education available to as many families as possible, Kingsway Christian School charges between $3,516 (elementary) to $4,128 (middle school) per 1st student and even less for second, third and fourth students per family. So our highest 2004-'05 tuition rates are still $300 less than the lowest public school rates of 4 years ago! To make up the difference of what we charge and what it actually costs, AND continue to add new progarms and strengthen current ones, we conduct fund raising events and ask as many families as possible to participate. Not only does this help offset the financial shortfall but also contributes to other areas of student and family life as well.

Fund raising is an activity that with proper guidance, can be a positive learning activity for your children as well as benefit the school, which, ultimately benefits your children!

Some fundraising benefits:

• Teaches Responsibility. Two of the fund raising events are "student driven" meaning they're geared towards the students to take responsibility to make it happen. Obviously we realize that parents are still an integral part of it's success, but it's our desire that parents guide, teach and motivate the students to play the key role in making it happen. While we certainly don't mind and understand when dad sells a case of candy at work, don't overlook the benefit of letting your son or daughter learn and grow too!
• Life Lessons. Fund raising stretches students into new areas of maturity. For those families who allow their children to go into the neighborhood and knock on doors, or even make the phone calls to family and friends, students develop self-confidence through making the presentation, explaining what they're doing, what the proceeds will go towards, delivering the product, and saying "thank you". They also learn and experience the satisfaction of making the sale as well as learning to sometimes accept rejection.
• Ownership. It's always satisfying to work toward a goal, achieve it, and take pride in knowing that you contributed toward it's reality and success. Think of the satisfaction of banding together with fellow students and families and working toward a major school item. Because they know first-hand how much the item cost and how much effort it required to achieve the goal, students tend to take pride in the results and even take better care of the item.
• Teaching By Example. While two of our events are student driven, the other two events, the fall banquet and the spring golf marathon, are parent driven. These provide parents the opportunity to not only assist in contributing to a school cause, but also demonstrate to their children a willing attitude and the need to do so. How much more effective it is to let your children see you practicing what you preach!
• Family and School Spirit. It's a fact that students and families who participate in school related activities with a positive attitude, and use it as a learning experience, develop a higher degree of school spirit and camaraderie which in turn improves morale in the family as well as throughout the school.