2023-24 Francis Parker Annual Fund


Please consider making a gift to the 2023-24 Annual Fund Campaign, which supports so many of the amazing things that create the dynamic, supportive, joyful school environment that we all love about Francis Parker!

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Giving Back

Annual Fund

Each year we ask our community to give generously. The Fund for Francis Parker is the cornerstone of our annual giving and thanks to the generosity of our current parents, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, and friends we raise $425,000 each year. This fund allows us to retain the best faculty, provide unique classroom experiences, and have the most diverse student body of any Independent School in the region.

Your gift can be directed to:

  • Greatest Need

  • Scholarship & Financial Aid

  • Faculty Support

  • Performing & Fine Arts

  • Athletics

*if any of the directed funds exceed their operating budget, the excess funds will be allocated to Greatest Need.

There are many options and ways to give, and your support will make a real and lasting impact in the lives of our students.

Online: You can choose to give online by clicking here and using Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover. In doing this you can also become part of our Francis Parker Sustainer program which will allow you to select automatic monthly payments and make your gift go further.

Checks: All checks should be made payable to Francis Parker School of Louisville and sent to the attention of the Development Department at 11000 US Hwy 42 Goshen, KY 40026.

Stocks: If you would like to make a gift of stock, please contact Kenisha Kelsey at 502-736-1008.

Capital Campaign

The Capital Campaign is a phased comprehensive campaign that includes both bricks and mortar facility improvements and scholarship endowment. By phasing the campaign, we can raise funds for a project, complete it, and move on to the next project. This approach fits the School’s needs, as we have multiple needs on both campuses, rather than one big $15 million building. Our campaign has four (4) bricks and mortar projects, three (e) of which are complete: the Goshen Gym, the expansion of the High School, and the Goshen Main Amp, Lobby & Theater. The final building project, the High School Wellness Center & Gym, will create on-campus athletic facilities to inspire our varsity athletes and add to the school climate.

For any questions about the Capital Campaign, please contact Bethany Heckel, Director of Advancement.

High School Wellness Center & Gym

Our final building in our Capital Campaign, the High School Wellness Center & Gym, will create on-campus athletic facilities to inspire our varsity athletes and add to the school climate. The first phase will include a weight room, exercise studio, multi-surface sport court in the basement level of our 233 West Broadway building. The second and final phase, a stunning gym will be built on our current flat-lot parking lot after completion of a multi-level parking garage. The gym will include a regulation high school-sized basketball court, volleyball court, concessions, weightlifting facilities, and storage.

Annual Gala

Each fall, with the help from a wonderful committee of volunteers, Francis Parker hosts its Annual Gala. We have two galas that rotate annually — Our Good Earth and Imagine! Art Auction + Scholarship Fundraiser. (Prior to 2017-18 we held two galas each year.) Our Good Earth, an outdoor farm-to-table dinner and auction, is set in the fields of our Goshen Campus. Imagine! Art Auction + Scholarship Fundraiser is held in downtown Louisville. The art auction features local, regional, and national artists. They are not asked to donate their work, but rather receive half of whatever their pieces sell for and therefore benefit from the auction as well. Both galas support the students of Francis Parker.

Volunteering

Volunteer with the Parent Association (PA)
The PA is comprised of all members of the parent body, and its purpose is to help maintain a strong, cooperative, and friendly relationship between parents and the School and to support the School’s Mission. Each family is asked to pay $50 in dues to the PA to support the School. This alleviates the need for any sales-based fundraisers such as candy or wrapping paper.

The PA also hosts many of the community-building events that we have over the school year, including:

  • Book Sale (D)
  • Back-to-School Picnic
  • New Parent Reception (D)
  • Taste of Francis Parker (D)
  • Grandparents’ Day (G)
  • Grandparents’ Day (D)
  • Holiday Wish Fund*
  • Parent – Child Dance (G)
  • Parent – Child Campout (G)
  • Pegasus Parade
  • Ice Cream Social (G)

Ongoing

  • Faculty/Staff Appreciation lunches/brunches
  • Classroom holiday parties (G)
  • Skating Parties (G)

*The Holiday Wish Fund was created by the PA to simplify the holiday gift giving process and make sure all teachers and staff members are thanked for their hard work. You may donate any amount of money you’d like and the PA then purchases gift cards for each faculty/staff member.

Volunteer with Athletics
Parents can support the athletic program through volunteering and fundraising events throughout the year. Here are ways you can help:

  • Serve on The Athletic Committee to plan the year’s activities for the committee
  • Athletic Banner Sponsorship is a wonderful way to show your support of the athletic program while advertising your business ($250 – $500).
  • Be a Team Parent on your child’s team and help with coordination and communication.
  • Concessions worker – we need lots of concessions assistance!
  • Gate worker – we need parents at every home game/meet to collect entrance fees.
  • Purchase season athletic passes to all home games in a given sport.
  • Additional Volunteer Opportunities are needed for scoring, announcing, photographing, team parties, and sports banquets.

Other Volunteer Opportunities
Additional Volunteer opportunities are available in every area of the school.

  • Be a lunchroom volunteer (Goshen Campus)
  • Be a Library volunteer (Goshen Campus)
  • Be a Book Sale volunteer (Downtown Campus)
  • Be a volunteer sub for the front desk
  • Be a PA classroom or grade-level rep
  • Serve on the Our Good Earth or Imagine! committee

Scholarships

We are committed to making a Francis Parker education accessible to all who are admitted, and as such, over 40% of the student population receives some form of aid to attend. This commitment to diversity and scholarships makes us truly unique among other local, as well as national, Independent Schools. In providing tuition assistance to students and their families, our financial aid helps cultivate a student body that more accurately reflects the diversity of the Louisville community. This allows our students to learn to appreciate and work with people from a variety of religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, which is critical to achieving our mission. Francis Parker offers both merit-based and need-based scholarships.

Merit Scholarship Competition

Merit Scholarship Competition

The Merit Scholarship Competition for incoming 6th and 9th graders is held in January each year and awards scholarships of up to $5,000 per student. The 6th grade awards are three-year renewable $1,000 scholarships and the 9th grade awards are four-year renewable scholarships and may be up to $5,000. Applications (including shadow day) must be completed prior to the Competition. You may register for the competition by emailing admissions@francisparkerlouisville.org.

Cipinko Humanities Merit Scholarship

CIPINKO HUMANITIES MERIT SCHOLARSHIP

Named in honor of longtime, beloved Francis Parker history teacher Stu Cipinko’s dedication to the highest level of intellectual rigor in the humanities areas of history and English, this scholarship is awarded to an incoming 9th grade student during our Merit Scholarship Competition.

Francis Parker Equity Scholarship

Francis Parker Equity Scholarship

This need-based scholarship is awarded annually to students from historically marginalized groups. These scholarships may be awarded each year to two or more qualified students.

New American Scholarships

New American Scholarship

This need-based scholarship is awarded to students who are immigrants themselves or who are the children of immigrants. These scholarships are normally awarded annually, but depend on the application of relevant students; there can be one or more New American Scholars per year.

Carnighan Scholarship

Carnighan Scholarship

This need-based scholarship is named in memory of Francis Parker alumnus Michael Carnighan G’84, ’88 and awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need and demonstrates enthusiasm and aptitude in science and/or mathematics. To qualify, applicants must compete in our Merit Scholarship Competition in January. This renewable scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming 9th grader.

Cawein Scholarships

Cawein Scholarship

This need-based scholarship is named in honor of Madison Cawein, former Francis Parker artist-in-residence. This scholarship is awarded to a student who has talent and passion for art, and who demonstrates financial need. This renewable scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming 9th grader.

Callie Stearns Campbell Memorial Scholarship

Callie Stearns Campbell Memorial Scholarship

This need-based scholarship is awarded to a passionate student who demonstrates financial need and demonstrates enthusiasm for a new beginning at Francis Parker School of Louisville. This renewable scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming 9th grader new to Francis Parker School of Louisville.

Planned Giving

Francis Parker recognizes and honors parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends who have included the school in their estate plans. Our Planned Giving Program provides a variety of ways to make a planned gift that do not deplete lifetime assets and, in some cases, can furnish additional income and significant tax deductions.

Stock is one of the best assets to use when making a charitable contribution. In most cases, an outright gift of appreciated securities entitles the donor to an income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the securities.
This trust provides either a fixed or variable income for you or your family. Part of the trust qualifies for an income tax deduction, and at the death of the last beneficiary, the assets of the trust are distributed to Francis Parker.
This trust allows you to pass on assets to family members with significant estate and gift tax savings, while allowing Francis Parker to benefit from the income for the duration of the trust.
A bequest or planned giving is a wonderful way to remember Francis Parker in your estate plans. A bequest may be for a specific amount, a percentage of the donor’s estate, or a residual portion.
A gift of real estate to Francis Parker provides considerable tax benefits. You also have the option of retaining the right to occupy the property for life or even to receive the income it generates.
A gift of life insurance allows you to contribute a previously acquired policy that may no longer be needed for its initial purpose and realize tax benefits. Francis Parker may also be named as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, company pension or profit-sharing plan, or of a private fund such as an IRA, Keogh or tax-sheltered annuity.
If a donor gives a tangible asset that can be used by Francis Parker in its educational programs, the donor receives a charitable deduction equal to the asset’s fair market value.

It may be possible to double your donation, doubling the impact of your gift to Francis Parker. Many companies match employee donations, dollar for dollar, to nonprofit organizations like ours. Please consider checking with your company to see if it offers a matching gift program.

We appreciate your interest in and support of Francis Parker. Your attorney or financial planner can provide additional information on how these ways of giving apply to your specific situation. The School can also recommend an attorney who specializes in estate planning and charitable giving.

If you are interested in learning more about these gift opportunities for you and Francis Parker, please contact Kenisha Kelsey in the Development Office at 502-736-1008. If you have already designated the school as a beneficiary, please contact the Development Office so that we can recognize your generosity.

To commemorate your child(ren)’s years on the Francis Parker Goshen Campus, formerly St. Francis School, you may be interested in purchasing a brick in his/her/their name(s) for the “Walk of Honor” located at the entrance of the School. This brick will be a lasting memory of your child(ren)’s experiences at and will be seen on every return to the school for visits or other reunions.

Bricks are $250 each and can be purchased below. Be sure to note your student’s full name to be shown on the brick!