- Why does a public school need private donation?
"Fund-raising for America's schools has gone way beyond the bake sale. You can't bake enough cookies to give America's schools the money they need."
- Howie Schaffer, Managing Editor of Public Education Network
The gap between the needs of a public school and the level of government funding is extremely wide. If Nettelhorst -- or any public school -- could fully fund programs through government support, we surely would. But public schools around the country have been forced to rely on caring and concerned people like you to make up the difference. This is the new reality in public schools. You make all the difference.
- Are my gifts tax-deductible?
Donors receive a tax deduction and other tax advantages when gifting to Nettelhorst Community Group (NCG), a 501(c)(3) public non-profit organization. You'll receive a receipt by email for tax purposes, detailing your contribution.
- How does Nettelhorst make decisions about my donation?
Our Local School Council and Principal set curriculum, physical plant, and other goals, in close cooperation with teaching staff and parents. Because we are a 501c3 organization, we are responsible for our own fundraising, as well as control and allocation of all donations to their intended projects. NCG volunteers and NCG partners across accounting, legal, cash management, and other disciplines ensure reliable stewardship of all contributions. Additionally, we have established a yearly independent audit, to further ensure the confidence of our donors and the rigid discipline of our efforts.
- May I restrict my Opportunity Fund gift to a particular project?
Gifts to the Opportunity Fund are used to support everything from operations to staffing to immediate-response reserves for matching grants and other opportunities. While we welcome every donor's thoughts on directed funds, we hope donors to the Opportunity Fund will understand that their gift creates a base from which the overall good of the school can be supercharged.
- How can I find out if my employer offers matching funds?
Matching gifts are often available through an employer, and your HR department can usually answer any questions quickly and provide the necessary forms. If you have a specific question, please feel free to .
- Can I make a gift of stock or other securities?
Nettelhorst can certainly accept such gifts. Please with any questions; we look forward to talking with you.
- Are my donation transactions safe and secure?
Yes. We are using Groundspring.org's DonateNow Service for Nonprofits to process all donations. DonateNow uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology to encrypt all data submitted to and from their site over the web. SSL renders donors' personal information, including credit card numbers, virtually unreadable to anyone who intercepts it. SSL is supported by all major browsers, including Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. (To find out if your browser is connected to a secure transaction server, look for a solid gold key in the lower right-hand corner of a Netscape browser. For a Microsoft browser, look for a locked padlock.)
- May I make a donation by check?
Yes. If you prefer to contribute by check (payable to Nettelhorst Community Group), our mailing address is:
Nettelhorst School
Attn: Nettelhorst Community Group
3252 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
