The Annual Fund for St. Mary’s

You Make A Difference

The Annual Fund for St. Mary’s has received more than $50,000—and our hearts are beyond grateful! 💙
Because of your generosity, the gap between tuition and the true cost of educating our students is beautifully bridged. Your support makes a tangible difference every single day by enhancing classroom experiences, meeting the financial needs of our students, and strengthening the incredible faculty who guide and inspire them. Your giving is a testament to the community that believes deeply in the mission of St. Mary’s School and in the promise of every child who walks through our doors. ✨
💙 We couldn’t do this without you, and we are endlessly thankful that we don’t have to. 💙

St. Mary’s School thrives because of a shared commitment to excellence in Catholic education. While tuition provides a foundation, it does not fully cover the cost of the rich, faith-filled learning environment we offer. That’s where The Annual Fund for St. Mary’s plays a vital role.

This annual fund bridges the gap, ensuring that every gift directly supports the current school year and enhances the daily experience of every student. From expanding academic innovation and arts programs to strengthening athletics, supporting faculty development, and offering tuition assistance—your generosity transforms both the programs and the people who make St. Mary’s exceptional.

Frequently Asked Questions

EVERYONE who is a part of the St. Mary’s School community is welcome and appreciated as supporters of the Fund for St. Mary’s. If you are a parent, what could be smarter than putting your money where your child is? As an alumnus, you want to talk about your years here with pride; help us keep growing and improving. If you are part of the Catholic community, you will be helping the church family by giving children a strong foundation in their faith. Finally, if you are a friend or community member, your interest may be in developing good citizens. A St. Mary’s School education molds young people into leaders who give back to the community. Your gift creates an immediate and lasting impact.

Yes! St. Mary’s values every gift, regardless of size. Gifts to The Fund for St. Mary’s range in size from $5 to $10,000+. We respectfully ask that each person in our community embrace The Fund for St. Mary’s as a philanthropic priority by making a gift that is personally meaningful. Your support also will often inspire others to make gifts.

You can make a gift or pledge online. Donors are encouraged to make a gift or pledge by December 31 and can fulfill their pledge anytime before June 30 each year.

There are other vehicles in which to make your gift. Learn more about Ways to Give.

Many companies will match their employee’s charitable donations. Corporate matching gifts enable people to increase the value of their support and provide a valuable source of revenue for the school. Please check with your Human Resources department to see if your employer offers matching funds.

Absolutely! You may honor a loved one or honor the memory of a loved one with a gift, send a gift to St. Mary’s School to celebrate a friend’s birthday, anniversary or a holiday. We will send you a note confirming receipt of your gift and will send a corresponding note regarding your thoughtfulness to the person you have honored and will recognize the honoree in our annual report.

You can make a gift or pledge throughout the fiscal year, July 1-June 30. Our community strives by December 31st to raise at least 70% of our total annual fund goal for The Fund for St. Mary’s.

Thank you to our generous donors who give and pledge early. This allows our school the flexibility to most thoughtfully allocate gifts to the needs of this school year.

Yes! Gifts to the Fund for St. Mary’s are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Working together, the Administration, Pastor, Finance Council, Bookkeeping Office and the Advancement Office determine The Fund for St. Mary’s goal. The process is a balancing act of forecasting tuition revenue, maximizing The Fund for St. Mary’s potential, and acknowledging the importance of the continued health and strength of our school. If we do not meet the goal, the deficit would have an across-the-board impact, with potential cutbacks shared by all.

St. Mary’s School tuition is set by the Diocese of Knoxville through our participation and benefit from the Knoxville Regional Catholic Schools Operating Fund (KRCSOF). Although this tuition is often raised annually to guarantee growth in faculty salaries and educational programs, our school could not charge the full cost without seriously limiting the number of qualified students who could afford to attend. Augmenting tuition with The Fund for St. Mary’s enables our school to keep tuition at a competitive rate with the surrounding community. In addition, your gift to The Fund for St. Mary’s is tax-deductible as allowed by law; tuition is not.

Giving societies help the school secure a number of gifts at all levels. If The Fund for St. Mary’s is to be successful, it must reflect the balance between leadership gifts and broad participation. Our giving levels provide an opportunity for all donors to be recognized and acknowledged for their generosity to St. Mary’s School. We expect different gifts from different people, and we value gifts from everyone.

Donors who make gifts to The Fund for St. Mary’s totaling over $1,000 annually are recognized as those who contribute at a leadership giving level to the school in the given year. Thank you to these Dominican Leadership Society members for their leadership level generosity and inspiration, demonstrating their commitment to the St. Mary’s School vision and mission. Members will be celebrated at our Dominican Leadership Society annual reception.

Society membership is open to all individuals, companies, and foundations that gift $1,000+ to the school in the given year as part of The Dominican Leadership Society.

Giving Levels

The Dominican Leadership Society Giving Levels*

St. Cecelia Society$5,000+
St. Dominic Society$2,500-$4,999
St. Antoninus Society$1,000-$2,499

*Members will be invited to an annual Dominican Leadership Society reception.

Other Giving Levels

Crusaders$500-$999
Blue & White$250-$499
Secret City SupportersUp to $249

Thank you for sharing your gifts and prayers with our school! Know of the prayers of our students, faculty, staff, clergy, and Sisters for you.

May God Bless You!