Philanthropy allows Santa Catalina to provide an exceptional education, support outstanding faculty, maintain our beautiful campus, and offer life-changing opportunities to students. Every gift, of any size, makes an immediate and lasting difference for our community.
Make a difference today.
Ways to Give
Gifts made online or by check are the most common form of support. Donations can be made through a single payment or a pledge over several months during the fiscal year.
Make checks payable to Santa Catalina School and send to:
Santa Catalina School
Development Office
1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey, CA 93940-5291
Please indicate on your check if there is a fund to which you would like to direct your gift.
For information about a gift in the form of stock, please contact the Development Office.
If you have already remembered Santa Catalina in your will or trust, or if you are interested in learning more, contact the Development Office.
Bequests
A simple yet powerful way to make a gift is to name Santa Catalina in your will or trust. In doing so, you may bequeath a monetary sum or a percentage of your estate. If you already have an up-to-date will or trust, you may add a provision for Santa Catalina through a codicil or trust amendment that states your latest intentions. Please refer to our Sample Language for Bequests for guidance.
Gifts of Retirement Funds
Qualified retirement plans offer an equally simple opportunity for investing in Santa Catalina’s future. If left in your estate, your heirs will pay income tax on these assets in addition to estate taxes, often amounting to a taxation of up to 75 percent. By bequeathing your retirement plan assets to Santa Catalina, you ensure that 100 percent of these funds will support your wishes.
Charitable Remainder Trusts
Charitable remainder trusts are individual trusts that can be funded with cash or appreciated property. Remainder annuity trusts distribute a fixed dollar amount of income, and remainder unitrusts distribute a variable amount either for a set term of years or for the lifetimes of the beneficiaries. Santa Catalina then receives the remainder of the trust assets. Advantages include:
- Annual income for yourself and/or other beneficiaries
- An immediate charitable deduction
- Elimination of capital gains tax on appreciated assets
- Estate tax savings
- Freedom from the burden of managing the property you put in the trust
Charitable Lead Trusts
A lead trust pays income to Santa Catalina for a number of years or a lifetime and then transfers the principal in the trust back to you or to another individual of your choice. This strategy is extremely beneficial in reducing your estate taxes and offers best savings during low-interest markets.
Life Insurance
An outright gift of a fully paid life insurance policy makes an excellent charitable gift. You can also make Santa Catalina the beneficiary of an existing policy, or you can take out a new policy with Santa Catalina as the owner and beneficiary.
Retained Life Estates
You may gift your home, farm, or vacation home and retain the right to live there as long as you live. The result is an immediate charitable deduction on your income tax and a gift to Santa Catalina when you no longer need the property.
As with all substantial financial planning, please consult with your financial advisor to determine the best method for achieving your philanthropic goals while planning for your financial future. Also, we recommend that you contact the Development Office to inform them of your plans and the intent of your gift. The information on this website is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice, please consult an attorney.
Non-cash gifts, or tangible gifts-in-kind, can be made to Santa Catalina in support of school needs. For more information, contact the Development Office at 831.655.9379 or [email protected].
Gifts to Santa Catalina School may be doubled or tripled. Many companies match contributions to independent schools from employees or employees' spouses. Does your company match donations? Search our database to find out.
Matching gift forms should be sent to:
Santa Catalina School
Development Office
1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey, CA 93940
Tax I.D. #94-1156652
How to use a donor-advised fund for immediate impact
1. Contact your DAF sponsor to recommend a one-time or recurring grant to Santa Catalina School. When making a grant, your donor-advised fund may need Santa Catalina's mailing address and Tax ID.
Mailing Address
Santa Catalina School
Development Office
1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey, CA 93940-5291
Santa Catalina School's Tax ID
94-1156652
Checks should be made out to Santa Catalina School.
2. Contact the Development Office to let the school know of your DAF recommendation so we can appropriately acknowledge your generosity and ensure that your grant is allocated accordingly.
Katey Verweij, Director of Development Operations
[email protected]
831.655.9379
Get Involved
Many parents, alums, and friends choose to give back to Santa Catalina through volunteering. Here are some ways to get involved.
The Parents Association supports the school and creates opportunities for parents to come together through a number of events and volunteer opportunities, including the Faculty Appreciation Luncheon, Lower School Carnival, Christmas Luncheon, and the Annual Spring Luncheon. All parents are members and are welcomed and encouraged to participate in activities and projects throughout the year. The group meets monthly.
Get Involved!Parent volunteers are an invaluable component of The Santa Catalina Fund drive. Volunteers serve as liaisons between the Development Office and alumnae/i, parents, and friends of school. Volunteers communicate the purposes of The Santa Catalina Fund, encourage participation, and acknowledge our supporters throughout the year.
Get Involved!Alumnae volunteers perform a vital role by keeping classmates connected to school. They promote the importance of annual giving and lead by example with their own gifts to The Santa Catalina Fund.
Interested in volunteering? Sign up here!
- Admission Ambassadors - Alumnae ambassadors work with the Admission Office to represent Santa Catalina in their local areas at feeder schools and admission fairs, and with educational consultants. We also connect them with prospective families who would like to gain an alumna's perspective on the school.
- Admission Receptions - Admission receptions are planned throughout California and the western states. Each event provides an excellent opportunity to connect prospective students and families with our admission staff. Alumnae work with the Admission Office to extend invitations and provide support to the event host.
- Alumnae Chapters - The chapters serve as a regional way for alumnae to connect with each other through their shared experience of having attended Santa Catalina School. Each chapter is served by a chair or co-chairs. Chapter chairs reach out to alumnae for gatherings and networking purposes. To volunteer, contact the chapter chair in your area.
- Alumnae Council - The Alumnae Council is the active leadership body of the Alumnae Association, representing alumnae from each decade since 1950. The council consists of an Executive Committee and members.
- Class Agents - Class Agents perform a vital role by keeping classmates connected to school. They promote the importance of annual giving and lead by example with their own gifts to the Santa Catalina Fund.
- Class Correspondents - Class Correspondents are the hub of communication for graduating classes. They contact classmates once a year to gather life updates to be published in Class Notes in the Bulletin.
- Reunion Ambassadors - Reunion Ambassadors work with the Alumnae Relations office to plan and implement imaginative and memorable Reunion weekend events and activities for their class. Ambassadors encourage classmates to attend, plan an off-campus gathering for one or both evenings of Reunion, help communicate important information, and encourage classmates to give to the Santa Catalina Fund in honor of their reunion.
- Young Alumnae Committee - Members of this committee advise on events and provide feedback geared toward alumnae who have graduated in the past 10 years. They meet semi-regularly via Zoom.
Cougar Fan Day is Santa Catalina’s annual athletics fundraiser, held each fall in the run-up to Parents' Weekend. The on-campus, family-friendly event features food, kids activities, swimming, and sports competitions in each division.
Get Involved!Children and parents alike look forward to the springtime Carnival as a family day of fun that benefits the Lower and Middle School. Volunteers assist with fundraising activities including a benefit drawing, class booths, clothing sales, food booths, rides, and more. Serving on a Carnival committee is a great way to meet other parents while enhancing your child’s experience at school.
Get Involved!