Endowment Funds
Rumson Country Day School's endowment funds can be compared to an individual's savings account and investments. Income from our endowment is another reliable source of annual revenue, providing support for teachers, students, and programs without pushing up tuition. Endowment is also a financial reserve that puts the School in a position to seize opportunities such as investing in technology, launching new programs, or enlarging the campus. Above all, perhaps, endowment means long-term security, protecting the School's quality if enrollments temporarily decline or the economy hits a rough spot. At such times, endowment can forestall teacher layoffs, cutbacks in programs, and deferred maintenance. Indeed, during the oil shock, recessions, and inflation of the 1970's a substantial endowment often prevented the closing of schools, their forced merger with other institutions, or a basic change in their missions.
Although all gifts to endowment strengthen RCDS, there are three areas of particular concern: general endowment, endowed compensation of faculty, and endowed financial aid for students.
General Endowment
Gifts made to general endowment strengthen RCDS's overall position, giving our trustees flexibility to apply annual income to any need. This can be invaluable in times of economic stringency, giving the School a reliable source of unrestricted annual income.
Endowing Compensation for Teachers
RCDS does not want to compromise with quality in faculty recruitment and retention. To that end, we have carefully fashioned a total compensation package that rewards our teachers with opportunities to further their education and acquire valuable professional skills, while also stimulating their interest in their chosen fields through travel, independent studies, and attendance at conferences and workshops.
One approach is to endow "Master Faculty" positions for teachers who have dedicated their professional careers to Rumson Country Day and attained the highest level of skill. These teachers area recognized and rewarded through our Master Faculty Fund, which is administered by our Headmaster and trustees.
Another category of faculty-related endowment supports the intellectual growth and currency of individual teachers. Every year since 2000, this program of "Enrichment Grants" has provided opportunities for several RCDS teachers to travel around the world for professional study. In recent years, our teachers have visited schools in China and South Africa, studied the history of the Holocaust in Scandinavia and the low countries, explored historic sites in Greece and Italy, experienced the wonders of the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu, taken courses in medieval studies at Cambridge University - to name just a few. Each time, a new group of teachers returns to share their experiences with their students and colleagues and integrate their newfound material into our curriculum. Our Endowment for Faculty Enrichment makes this program possible.
Endowment for Financial Aid
The Rumson Country Day School's mission is to educate students "from all communities" -- well-qualified children who can benefit from what RCDS offers and contribute to the life of our school. As the cost of an independent education rises, however, we can keep our school open to low- and middle-income families only by offering substantial financial assistance. RCDS seeks to add sufficient financial aid endowment to support at least one new tuition per year at each grade level.
