Questions and Answers
Campaign
What is the difference between the Annual Fund and a capital campaign?
Annual gifts are raised each year from parents, faculty and staff, grandparents, and alumni families. These gifts allow Gillispie to provide outstanding educational opportunities for students and support faculty salaries. Gifts to the Annual Fund allow Gillispie flexibility in responding to the needs of programs and priorities on campus this school year. A capital gift is normally a larger, one-time gift that goes toward projects like new buildings and campus enhancements.
When will I be asked to give to the campus improvements?
The Gillispie Board of Trustees has achieved 100% participation in the campaign!
By the end of the campaign, all families will be given an opportunity to help make these amazing enhancements available for our students and faculty.
If you are interested in chatting with someone about giving to the campaign, please contact Alison Fleming, Head of School.
Are there naming opportunities?
Yes! We have areas that have already been reserved but are happy to discuss available opportunities with you.
Who is on the Constructing Sandboxes Campaign Committee?
Zoe Kleinbub and Dagmar Smek, Co-Chairs
Pietro La Greca – Claire Grezemkovsky – Linda Kao – Peter J. Preuss – John and Lynnsay Rogers – Jessica Schuster – Susan Yang
Finances
Will funding come from tuition hikes?
No. Gillispie will seek funding through a combination of mostly philanthropic giving as well as from increased enrollment due to the addition of two early childhood classrooms.
Why don’t you just borrow the money?
It would not be financially prudent for the school to assume additional debt. The debt service on the increased debt would negatively impact the school’s ability to deliver its exceptional programs.
How is the campaign being funded?
The cost of mounting the campaign will be paid for out of funds raised. The projected cost is less than 4% of the total raised.
Construction
What will the campus be like during construction?
As we move forward with constructing the new facilities, our guiding principles are:
- The needs and safety of our students and parents are our highest priority.
- Construction sequencing should create the least disruption for students.
Who is the design and build team?
We have engaged the architectural firm of IPA, cutting-edge leaders in innovative design, to help us achieve one overarching purpose: to stimulate creativity in as many ways as possible so that children have numerous opportunities and ways in which to become passionate learners.
The general contractor is Lakewood Builders LLC.
Imagine Red, a team of architects, interior designers, graphic designers and artists based in Los Angeles who specialize in educational spaces have come on board to provide interior design services.