How does the Annual Fund help OLL?
Tuition alone does not cover the operating costs of a Catholic school.
We at Our Lady of Lourdes aim to keep tuition costs as low as possible so as to keep excellent Catholic education accessible to all who seek to attend our school. In order to maintain the lowest tuition possible, we rely upon contributions from our parish and diocese, as well as donations from our benefactors.
Each year, our parish contributes $100,000 towards the school budget which is distributed towards student tuition. We are blessed to be a part of the Diocese of St Petersburg who contributes towards scholarships that benefit families who need additional financial assistance. We also have a number of generous families and individuals who provide private scholarships and tuition assistance to our students.
As a 501(c)3 organization, Our Lady of Lourdes is entirely dependent upon revenue from tuition, contributions from our parish and diocese, and donations from our benefactors. The Annual Fund helps to bridge the gaps between the school’s needs and the funds provided by donations and tuition.
The money raised from the Annual Fund supports the following critical school priorities:
1) Facility and Technology Improvements: Allows for repair and refurbishment needs in our school plant and for major future facility expenditures; and provides cutting edge technological advancements for our faculty and students.
2) Student Programs: Provides a rich and superior educational environment in and out of the classroom through our class enrichment projects, including: Curriculum Upgrades, Humanities offerings, Morning News Show, Music, Art, Drama, Clubs, field trips, and more.
3) Faculty Development: Allows OLL to attract, retain, and develop a talented and dedicated faculty to provide the best possible academic education to our students.
4) Financial Aid: With Annual Fund commitments, an OLL education remains affordable to as many families as possible by bridging the gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of educating each student. The OLL Annual Fund assists the school in controlling tuition, making our education accessible to more families, and sustaining our commitment to financial aid.
