Spotlight on Giving: The Impact of Our "I Believe" Annual Fund

by Melissa Jantz

At Donum Dei we have a passion for excellence. We aim to be that school that families tour and can’t imagine having ever lived without it. We have a lofty goal of helping Christian families thrive right here in San Francisco and of supporting them in raising children who aren’t just well-educated, but are also deeply passionate about Jesus and equipped to follow His leading as they go out into the world.

We have been blessed by a community of mentors and partners who have supported us in this endeavor from the very early days of our school’s existence up until now—people and other schools who have offered their wisdom, time, and resources to establish DDCA’s foundation and build it from the ground up.

Each year we prayerfully consider the needs of our school and how to allocate resources in order to unlock the next phase of growth. We do this work with a deep desire to step fearlessly and obediently into all that God is calling us to, and then we invite our community of supporters to consider how they can partner with us in this.

In an effort to bring to light the importance of annual giving, I sat down with Kelsey Yeager, our Admissions and Advancement Director, to talk about Donum Dei’s Annual Fund.

Q: What is the Annual Fund?

A: The I Believe Annual Fund is a tangible expression of our community’s support for the school’s mission and vision. Donations provide what is needed to bridge the gap between what it costs to educate and what is charged in tuition and fees, allowing us to keep our tuition affordable while also continuing to grow in key areas. These key areas are faculty development, needs-based tuition assistance, curriculum, programs, and facilities. Broadly, we refer to them as the 4 F’s: Families, Faculty, Facilities, and Future.

Q: How are this year’s funds going to be used?

A: The money we raise this year will be distributed across our four key areas.

Families: A large portion of our annual fund goes towards tuition assistance. We were able to extend $300,000 in assistance this year and want to continue growing in this area. We know the financial challenges of living in the Bay Area are all too real for most families and we desire to make our school financially accessible to all who desire a classical Christian education for their children.

Faculty: Being able to recruit and support our teachers through training and professional development builds our school and deepens the richness of the robust education we offer. Delivering an exceptional education requires exceptional teachers, and we work hard to recruit and retain teachers who love the Lord, love students, and are passionate about classical education. 

Facilities: This year we hope to expand our ability to accommodate our growing student body through enhancement of our space, additional classroom furnishings, and campuswide maintenance and improvements. We also hope to complete upgrades to our fine arts spaces, including the auditorium, in order to enrich the student experience and reflect the value we place on beauty and creativity (which I’m personally very excited about). 

Future: Donum Dei’s mission is to equip students to be virtuous scholars and servant leaders who are known, loved, and formed through a rigorous classical and Christ-centered education grounded in biblical truth. We carry a vision for seeking the peace and prosperity of our city by cultivating spiritually rooted and classically formed students who, alongside their families, serve and live redemptively for the glory of God. We’re also always thinking long term and making sure we keep up with the growing community is essential and strategic planning in this area is crucial.

Q: In your role as Admissions and Advancement Director, what positive impact have you seen on our school—the students, the classes, the faculty and staff—from donations we’ve received through our Annual Fund?

That’s a great question! As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

I think the facility updates that we’ve been able to complete over the last 18 months or so have had a significant impact on our students and teachers. One family that toured recently was so excited to see that their preschooler would have a beautiful outdoor space to play in regularly. I remember vividly when the playground was first updated, some of our current students running out and doing “turf angels” in their excitement!

Another significant improvement that we’ve been able to accomplish this past year is the elevation of our fine arts program. Our students are taking the arts to a whole new level, which is so exciting to see as the arts and the integration of the arts into the overall curriculum is such a pillar in classical education. 

Q: What positive impact have you seen for our families?

We have been able to make it financially possible for more families to enroll than ever before. Families tell us all the time about the difference they see in their children because of the education and virtue formation they’re receiving at Donum Dei has been greater than they imagined possible. The two other things that I think have impacted families the most are the high faculty retention that we have experienced since 2023 and the facility improvements that have been made. I think these two things have specifically grown the confidence of current and prospective families in the stability and longevity of Donum Dei as an education option for Christian families living in San Francisco. 

Q: What positive impact is DDCA making on our city?

This past year we had an astonishing 98% retention rate and nearly 20% increase in enrollment. What a testament to our vision of helping families have the opportunity to stay in the city by providing a school where their children are seen, known, and loved! And we love being in the community and truly serving with hearts of gratitude. We want to bless San Francisco and love others in tangible ways.

Q: When we ask our community for donations, what are we inviting them into?

When we ask our community, both near and far, for donations we are not simply asking for a transaction where we ask, they give, and that’s it. Our hope and desire is to foster symbiotic relationships between Donum Dei and each of our partners. We truly believe that investing in this school is bearing real and tangible fruit for our students, families, and staff. 

Q: How do you see this happening already?

A: Our school leadership team is currently working to develop deep relationships with families, organizations, and churches throughout the Bay Area. We know that formation happens not only on school grounds and that we need partners across the city to truly help shape the lives of our students. One specific way we are currently doing this is through Parent Equipping Nights, which are intended to support parents throughout the Bay Area as they navigate raising families and finding ways to thrive. We want churches and families to experience DDCA as a vibrant resource for them. 

Q: Does it matter how much I give?

A: We are so thankful for such a generous giving community. Our school truly would not exist without YOU. It does not matter whether you give $10, $50, or $5,000 – every single dollar helps to bring a Donum Dei education to families in the Bay Area.

Give to our Annual Fund

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Mrs. Kelsey Yeager partners with Donum Dei Classical Academy as our Admissions and Advancement Director. She is passionate about classical education and has worked and volunteered with children and adolescents in a variety of settings, ranging from camps to therapy, since 2004.

Mrs. Melissa Jantz partners with Donum Dei Classical Academy as our Communications Coordinator. She brings many years of experience in classical education and a deep desire to help families in the City flourish.