The ECFS Orange Fund is vital to the School’s commitment to academic excellence, progressive education, and ethical learning.
We put your gifts to immediate use supporting these areas of our School community: financial aid, professional development for faculty, educational technology, athletics, curriculum innovation, visual and performing arts, and extracurricular activities.
Levels of Giving
Leadership giving starts at $10,000.
Visionary | $75,000 and above |
Founder | $50,000-74,999 |
Leader | $35,000–49,999 |
Benefactor | $25,000–34,999 |
Ambassador | $15,000–24,999 |
Director | $10,000–14,999 |
Patron | $5,000–9,999 |
Pacesetter | $2,500–4,999 |
1878 Club | $1,878–2,499 |
Member | $1,000–1,877 |
Donor | up to $999 |
Orange Fund Volunteers
The Orange Fund Volunteer Program is one of our most important school-wide volunteer opportunities and a great way to give back to the ECFS community from the comfort of your home. Volunteers reach out to fellow parents/guardians to encourage participation in the Orange Fund. Each volunteer is assigned a handful of families to reach out to through a combination of phone calls and emails.
If you are interested in volunteering and for more information, contact Thea Barovick ’18, tbarovick@ecfs.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I contribute to the Orange Fund? Isn’t tuition enough?
Why should I contribute to the Orange Fund? Isn’t tuition enough?
The Orange Fund has a direct impact on the ECFS educational experience. As with all independent schools, tuition alone does not cover the full cost of educating each student at ECFS. Historically the gap between tuition and operating expenses has been around $7,500 per student. The remaining costs are made up of income from our institutional investment portfolio and unrestricted donations to the annual fund (Orange Fund).
Philanthropic support is an important part of every independent/ not-for-profit school’s business plan. Your gifts to the Orange Fund help reduce the gap per student and help ECFS meet our annual operating budget. Achieving our Orange Fund financial goals is essential.
Why can’t the School draw more money from the endowment instead of fundraising?
Why can’t the School draw more money from the endowment instead of fundraising?
Thanks to the generosity of generations of philanthropic alumni, parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, faculty, staff and friends, ECFS is fortunate to have an endowment that allows the School to pursue its educational mission without jeopardizing its financial stability. While endowment income does fund a portion of the yearly operating budget, a portion of it must be reinvested each year to ensure that the endowment keeps pace with inflation. In addition, some contributors to the endowment have set specific restrictions on how these funds may be used.
If I can’t make a large gift, does a small gift really make a difference?
If I can’t make a large gift, does a small gift really make a difference?
Yes! ECFS values every gift no matter the size. Every donation will contribute to reducing the gap per student.
Last year, the median gift to the Orange Fund was $150. Thanks in part to these contributions, the Orange Fund reached a new milestone for total giving, directly benefiting each student’s ECFS experience. Our School greatly values participation from all community members. Last year 69% of our families contributed to the Orange Fund. Our goal is to increase this participation every year and reach 100%.
Our family receives financial aid. Why would I give back money that the School is giving me?
Our family receives financial aid. Why would I give back money that the School is giving me?
We ask every member of the ECFS community — from current families to alumni — to participate in the Orange Fund, including families who receive financial aid. Your contribution, at any level, strengthens our community and demonstrates your support of the ECFS mission and your investment in its future.
How much should I donate to the Orange Fund?
How much should I donate to the Orange Fund?
Contributions to the Orange Fund range in size from $5 to $100,000+. Each and every gift is important.
We hope that families will make ECFS a top philanthropic priority while their children are attending, and that alumni will recognize the importance that ECFS made on their lives and donate to provide a similar opportunity for those who follow. Strong financial support of the Orange Fund demonstrates your commitment to the School and your belief in our students and their bright futures.
Are Orange Fund gifts tax-deductible?
Are Orange Fund gifts tax-deductible?
Yes! ECFS is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization under the Federal Internal Revenue Code. Unlike tuition fees, all contributions to the Orange Fund are deductible pursuant to the prevailing tax laws. All donors will receive a letter noting their gift amount, the date of their gift, and a disclosure that no goods or services were provided.
When can I make a gift to the Orange Fund?
When can I make a gift to the Orange Fund?
The Orange Fund runs from July 1–June 30 each year.
Who do I contact if I have any questions?
Who do I contact if I have any questions?
Kavita Bordia, Director of Development, kbordia@ecfs.org or Thea Barovick, Development Coordinator, tbarovick@ecfs.org.
ECFS Information
EIN/Tax ID Number
13-3862529
Mailing Address
Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Advancement Office
33 Central Park West
New York, NY 10023
Contact
orangefund@ecfs.org