Areas To Support
Your unique circumstances will determine what type of gift is best for you but first you must decide what area you wish your contribution to be directed to. While we appreciate the trust and flexibility that many of our donors give us, to use their gifts “where most needed,” we also respect our donors’ desires to impact specific Funds and Programs based on their own experiences and preferences.
ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP
Annual Scholarships are another way to lend your support to deserving students who cannot afford to attend Austin Catholic High School without merit scholarships or financial aid. A gift in any amount will be used exclusively for tuition payments. Currently, 40% of Austin students receive tuition assistance. Tuition for the upcoming 2025-26 school year is $11,250.
GENERAL ENDOWMENT
An endowment held by a non-profit organization such as Austin Catholic High School consists of funds that have been donated usually with a specific objective or purpose and then invested to generate income in perpetuity. Thus, the donation provides a long-lasting benefit to the organization, rather than if it were spent all at one time. Gifts of this type are classified as “restricted” endowments, meaning that they must be used as originally intended/specified by the donor.
A benefactor may choose to support student scholarships. Another might fund a special program (e.g., faculty development, school improvement projects, or a specific need identified by the President) or a student (e.g., to recognize outstanding extracurricular leadership or exceptional sportsmanship). Most endowment funds given to Austin have been earmarked for financial assistance to our students.
The funds that have been donated are not meant to be spent—nor are all of the earnings from the invested principal.
A portion of the earnings is usually added to the principal; this is done to augment the endowment and to compensate for future inflation and possible economic downturns. The spendable income of the earnings is used for the purpose that the donor originally specified. Only endowment income can be spent. By law, the principle must remain intact in perpetuity.
Those intending to support the Endowment should contact advancement@austincatholichighschool.org.
NAMED ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS
An endowment is a permanent fund that holds its principal in perpetuity and is invested for the benefit of a particular purpose. You can establish a permanent endowment to benefit ACHS with a gift of cash, securities or complex assets. Once in place, the Endowment fund will grow and make annual distributions to support Austin for generations to come.
Austin Catholic High School partnered with the Catholic Foundation of Michigan and created four Scholarship Endowment Funds. Anyone may contribute to an existing endowment fund in any dollar amount.
- The Rick Pine Scholarship Endowment
- The Class of 1963 Scholarship Endowment
- The Gary Evatz Scholarship Endowment
- The Augustinian Scholarship Endowment
If you would like to contribute to a fund or establish a new scholarship endowment, please email advancement@austincatholichighschool.org.