The Cannon Fund

List of 8 items.

• Why is parent participation important?

  High participation rates elevate the annual giving program and create a sense of pride in our community to support our teachers and students. In addition, high participation rates show those outside our community that collectively, we support our teachers and the mission of Cannon School. The participation rate of the Cannon fund is one of the factors foundations use to determine if a grant will be made to Cannon. Cannon has received over $827,000 in grants from foundations over the past five years. Grants always help our tuition dollars go farther.

• Why support Cannon Fund?

  A vibrant Cannon Fund enhances the educational opportunities for our students today but also protects and increases the value of a Cannon degree in the future. Your gift enriches the Cannon experience for every student by providing updated and expanded student programs in each division and by providing professional development opportunities for our talented faculty and staff. Tuition dollars do not cover the entire cost of an independent school education. Therefore, private schools utilize a yearly campaign - an annual appeal for unrestricted cash gifts to the school. The Cannon Fund bridges the gap between tuition and the actual cost of attending Cannon School.
  
  Your gift also provides our teachers and students with current technology, enhances arts and athletic offerings, expands community service, and much more.  
  
  Every gift is 100% tax-deductible, and every dollar makes a difference. Your gift truly helps make Cannon's extraordinary learning community possible.

• Why don't we simply raise tuition to cover the shortfall in operating funds?

  Cannon School and other independent schools utilize tax-deductible donations rather than significant tuition increases to provide the best education possible. Tax-deductible gifts help keep tuition increases to a minimum and provide a tax deduction for donors.

• What benefits does the Cannon Fund provide?

  The Cannon Fund supports our faculty and students every day of the year because it covers 3 - 4% of the operating budget at Cannon and touches every aspect of campus life, such as:
  
  

  • Small classroom sizes for individual instruction.
  • Professional development for our teachers to learn different and better ways to engage Cannon students.
  • Enhancements to classrooms and new teachers when needed.

  Recent enhancements include:
  
  

  • Laser cutter in The Mill
  • Updated lighting in the Cindric Performing Arts Center
  • New playground equipment
  • Purchasing of new buses
  • New smartboards
  • Stipends for coaches
  • Professional development for faculty and staff
  • New furniture in classrooms
  • New iPads and laptops for students and faculty
  • New textbooks

• What is the Cannon Fund goal this year?

  The 2020-2021 budgeted financial goal is $600,000, and our participation goal is always 100% school-wide. The generosity of our community will benefit our students now and enhance the quality of a Cannon degree for years to come.

• Who supports the Cannon Fund?

  Parents, alumni parents, grandparents, trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, vendors, corporate partners, and friends of Cannon support this campaign, and Cannon administration, trustees, and faculty have reached 100% participation for ten years in a row.

• How much am I expected to contribute?

  Every Cannon family is asked to consider the Cannon Fund as their first giving priority because it helps to cover the difference between tuition and the actual cost of a Cannon education. The expectation is that every family will first consider a gift at one of the levels of the Cannon Society, which begins at $1,500 a year or $125 per month. If the Cannon Society is not the right level for your family, we encourage you to participate at a level that is right for your family every year.
  
  Every gift is important and appreciated!

• What are some things the Cannon Fund helps provide?

  Gifts to the Cannon Fund helped provide for the following initiatives:

   

  • Redesigned Lower School Technology Lab with state-of-the-art touch-screen laptops and iPads
  • Brainology, an online interactive program in which sixth-grade students learn how the brain works, how to strengthen their own brains, and how to focus on a growth mindset
  • Renovated Upper School Library with additional online resources for research and enhanced study spaces
  • Learning Specialist for Lower and Middle School
  • Professional Strength Training and Conditioning Coach for our student-athletes