Consider Donating to Mesa Verde. No Fundraising - Just Give
1. What is the Direct Giving Campaign? The Direct Giving Campaign will be Mesa Verde’s largest fundraising activity for the PTO. Mesa Verde families, faculty and friends are asked to make a direct financial contribution to the PTO to support our school and provide the best educational experience for our children.
2. Why aren’t we just selling gift wrap, magazines and other items like we have done in the past?
The Direct Giving Campaign was developed in response to feedback we’ve received from Mesa Verde families. Many of you have expressed that you would rather “just write a check” instead of being pressured to buy and sell items. We are also following a national trend as schools throughout our community and across the country are finding that families prefer to directly make contributions rather than do sales-based fundraising.
Other benefits include:
*100% of your contribution will come directly to Mesa Verde!
*During this challenging economic time, you can actually spend LESS and give MORE! (If you used to spend $100 on gift wrap, half of that went to the fundraising company. Now, if you give $75, you have spent less, but all the money actually comes to Mesa Verde!)
*Your gift is tax-deductible!
3. How will the money be spent?
Money raised from the Direct Giving Campaign will fund important, vital programs that enrich every child’s educational experience at Mesa Verde, but cannot be paid for out of the general school budget or with your state tax credit dollars. These funding priorities are determined each year by the PTO and our principal, with input from parents, teachers and students.
This year, if our goal is met, these projects may include:
*classroom supply money for every teacher
*computers and other classroom technology
*reading room program
*playground equipment
*staff appreciation
*water field day
*professional development opportunities for teachers
*PLUS other special projects throughout the year that are requested by parents and teachers and approved by the PTO (remember, YOU are the PTO!)
4. How much am I expected to give?
No set amount is expected. We hope that ALL our families will participate in the Direct Giving Campaign to the best of their ability. However, we have suggested giving amounts to help you think about what your family might contribute.
Consider:
*$5/month of the school year= $50
*$10/month of the school year= $100
*$1/day of the school year=$180
5. Is this different from the State Tax Credit?
Yes, this is different from the State Tax Credit program, where a married couple can give up to $400 for extra-curricular activities and receive a dollar for dollar credit on your state tax bill. (You essentially get your state tax credit contribution back when you pay you state taxes or receive your state tax refund.) Your tax credit contributions fund extracurricular activities (that you can designate) such as field trips, band, orchestra and track. Money received from the state tax credit cannot be used for the things that our PTO funds. Your contributions to the Direct Giving Campaign funds PTO priorities that are determined annually. Both contributions are 100% tax deductible. We hope you’ll do both.
6. What about our other school fundraisers? What about our events?
The Direct Giving Campaign was created to replace our sales-based fundraises. If we reach our goal through this campaign, we will not ask you to buy or sell other items throughout the school year. However, due to popular demand, the “cookie dough sale” may still happen this year. Other events such as Peter Piper Pizza Nights, the Scholastic Book Fair, Open House and Adopt-A-Family will continue because they have other benefits such as bringing our Mesa Verde community together.
7. I still have questions. Who can I ask?
PTO Officers! [email protected]