Challenge Grant for Christian School Annual Fund

Next month we will have the formal launch of our Annual Fund campaign. We combine the launch with an evening called the Fine Dessert in which we feature every grade demonstrating some aspect of what they are learning. To that extent, the evening serves as both an introduction, or showcase, for prospective parents. It is one of the few times we can gather the entire school.

This week I had a meeting with the father of one our newer students who wants to make a gift of $10,000, a large gift for a school of our size. He was excited that God has been blessing his business and he is in position to do something significant in response to the Lord's goodness.

He asked how this gift could be leveraged to encourage additional giving. We came up with two ways:

1. Use this gift to encourage other major donors to make a significant commitment.
2. Use the combined commitments of these major donors (10 total) to provide the encouragement and impetus for others at the Dessert to make a pledge or gift to the Annual Fund.

In this past week I had some wonderful conversations with friends of the school who are committing to larger-than-usual gifts to bring this "Challenge Grant" up to a larger amount.

So far, we have over $40,000 in commitments and there are others to hear from. I believe we will be able to go to the dinner with almost half of the Annual Fund pledged. Praise the Lord!

This Challenge Grant is not a matching program. The individuals are going to contribute; this is not a conditional offer, i.e. if you don't get the first $50,000, then you cannot get the matching $50,000.

No, we have a group of families who stand strongly for the school and want to back their words with action. They do not want to be named, their donations will aggregated and anonymous.

Maybe your school has a donor who God is raising up to lead such a challenge.