Guide to Giving

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

The Board of Trustees’ objective is to safeguard and  advance the mission of Marin Montessori School.  The board consists of current and alumni parents, alumni,  grandparents, and key community representatives, all of  whom share a deep commitment to MMS. 

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION 

The Parents’ Association (PA) is run by a dedicated  group of current parents who coordinate volunteer work,  fundraising, and special events that promote a vibrant  MMS community. 

For more information on whom to contact and how to get  involved with the PA, please click here.

ADMISSIONS AMBASSADORS 

Admissions Ambassadors support MMS by volunteering  at admissions events and tours. Ambassadors provide  support to prospective families by making themselves  available for questions as families navigate the admissions  process. Ambassadors also participate in our “Stewards”  program that works to welcome new MMS families into  our community. 

ANNUAL FUND LEVEL CAPTAINS 

Level Captains support MMS through our annual fundraiser,  the Annual Fund. Level Captains are available for questions  and conversations regarding the impact of giving and  encourage 100% participation from their level. 

ROOM PARENTS/JUNIOR HIGH PARENT AMBASSADORS 

Room parents and JH parent ambassadors play a key role  in supporting their child’s teacher and the Junior High  Director in event planning, communications, and a range of other activities for the class.

ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN 

The Annual Fund is a yearly donation-based drive to support the school’s annual operating budget. These tax-deductible contributions support all aspects of the school’s operations, including the highest level of AMI Montessori education for students in every classroom, beautiful indoor and outdoor learning environments, and our tuition assistance program.

As is the case at independent schools everywhere, tuition covers most of our operating expenses but not all of them. While MMS could raise tuition to cover operational costs, budgeting for a fundraising gap enables the school to keep tuition more affordable in order to include a diverse range of students and families.

This year the Annual Fund is being combined with our Tuition Assistance Program. All donations to the Annual Fund will support MMS’ operating budget to meet the tuition gap per student and donors have the option to direct their gift to one of the following budget areas: 

• Extend Access & Affordability 

• Enrich Academic Programs 

• Beautify & Expand Campuses & Classrooms 

• Retain & Elevate World Class Faculty

We ask each community member to consider giving as generously as they can to support our school's continued financial health. 

ANNUAL FUND GIVING LEVELS

$50,000 and above Century Circle

$25,000 - $49,999 Visionaries

$15,000 - $24,999 Innovators

$10,000 - $14,999 Explorers

$5,000 - $9,999 Scholars

$2,500 - $4,999 Builders

$1,000 - $2,499 Mentors

up to $999 Friends

CAPITAL GIVING 

Gifts that support costly improvements to the school’s  programs and campus can be discussed at any time  throughout the year. Projects must be mission-aligned and  match the strategic direction as outlined by the campus  planning committee. 

ENDOWMENT GIVING 

Gifts to the endowment strengthen the financial health and  flexibility of MMS. The principal of an endowment gift is  invested, and the income generated becomes a source of  revenue for general or targeted support. These funds  enable MMS to weather changes in our economy and take  advantage of timely opportunities to expand, strengthen,  and innovate. 

PLANNED GIVING 

Planned gifts are a way to meet your philanthropic and  financial goals while leaving a legacy that supports a Marin  Montessori education for future children. Planned giving  can be as simple as including a bequest to MMS in your will,  or a gift that can secure income for life through a remainder  trust.  

MATCHING GIFTS 

Don’t miss the opportunity to double your gift! Many  employers offer to match employee gifts to charitable  organizations up to 200%. Please check with your company  to see if it offers matching gifts, or let us know if we can  assist you with this process. Remember that gifts from  spouses and retirees may also be eligible. 

Since MMS’ inception more than 40 years ago, parents, faculty, and staff have been contributing their creative energies to designing an evening of fun and community building to raise money for tuition assistance. Money is raised through soliciting sponsorships from families and businesses, and a paddle raise to “Fund-the-Children.”

In 2019-2020 we reimagined our annual event and launched a speaker series, The Gather for Good. This event serves as an opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate our values, strengths, and passions–educating ourselves on the topics that matter most.

In February 2020, we were honored to welcome former Vice President Al Gore to our stage. His leadership in combating the climate crisis is inspiring and reflects our mission to challenge our children to engage in meaningful, world-changing work.

In Spring 2021, the community partnered with local expert, Alice Waters, the world's leading advocate for what she calls, "Edible Education," to explore the intersection of food, education, and sustainable agriculture.