Guide to Giving
Your gifts of time, talent and treasure touch every facet of Marin Montessori School.
With your ongoing generous support, MMS is able to provide the very best AMI Montessori education for all students attending our school - as well as sustain the legacy for those who will join us in the future.
We know many in our community want to know how they can help, which is why we've provided our Guide to Giving. Take a look at the flip book or the descriptions below.
Volunteer Leadership
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.
Relief and Annual Fund
THE MMS RELIEF & ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN
The Annual Fund is a yearly donation-based drive to support the school’s annual operating budget. These 100% tax-deductible contributions support all aspects of the school’s operations, including the highest level of AMI Montessori education for students in every classroom, our 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 MMS Relief Fund once again. All donations to the MMS Relief & Annual Fund will support MMS’ ability to meet the additional pressures COVID-19 has put on our school’s financial resources as well as help meet our tuition gap per student.
The MMS Relief & Annual Fund supports:
- Short Term Tuition Relief Program
- Increased financial aid
- New outdoor learning spaces
- Upgrading our technology for distance learning
- Essential equipment, cleaning services and supplies, hygiene stations, personal protective equipment for our campus and crew’s safety and health
We ask each member of our community to consider giving as generously as you can to support the continued financial health and safety of our school.
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
Other Giving Opportunities
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.
The Gather for Good
Since MMS' inception more than 40 years ago, parents, faculty, and staff have been contributing their creative energies into designing an evening of fun and community building to raise money for tuition assistance. Money is raised through soliciting sponsorships from families and businesses, class projects, and a paddle raise for “Fund-the-Children.”
In 2019-2020, we reimagined our annual event and launched a new speaker series, The Gather for Good. The Gather remains our primary method for raising funds for tuition assistance but also serves as an annual opportunity for our community to come together in celebration of 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 not only inspiring but also reflects our mission to challenge our children to engage in meaningful, world-changing work.
In Spring 2021, the community came together to explore the intersection of food, education, and sustainable agriculture. Partnering with our local expert, Alice Waters, who is the world’s leading advocate for what she has coined, “Edible Education.”