Day of Giving

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make our first Day of Giving such a success!

Together you helped us raise more than $16,000!


Did you miss it? It's not too late to make an impact for this school year—just be sure to give before June 30, 2024. Donate online here.

Montessori School of the Berkshires hosted its first Day of Giving on Thursday, April 11, 2024.


The Day of Giving is an opportunity for the entire MSB community - current families, alumni and their parents, grandparents and friends - to come together on a day dedicated to generosity, school spirit and fun.


Your gift to MSB has a direct impact on our students, communities, faculty, and staff. Giving to The Annual Fund ensures and expands access to the educational programming and learning opportunities that encompass the MSB student experience.

The Annual Fund supports the areas of greatest need for current students:


  • Individual Family Aid: Over 50% of our families benefit from the Individualized Tuition Program offered by MSB. We understand that each family has different financial means and pay a different percentage towards the full cost of educating a child at MSB. We work with all families to ensure a fair and sustainable tuition model that holds true to our mission of a dynamic, inclusive, and engaged MSB community.


  • Faculty Training: Teacher/Guide training is imperative to the Montessori environment. In the classroom, the Montessori teacher prepares a rich educational environment designed to create natural opportunities for independence, citizenship, and accountability. Thanks to the 2023 Montessori Rising Fundraising Gala, MSB was able to send 4 teachers to the American Montessori Society Training to continue improving the MSB student experience. These lead guides are committed to MSB and your students for years to come.


  • Community Program Support: Thanks to the Parent Community of volunteers, MSB hosts community events throughout the year such as Pancake Breakfasts, Trunk or Treat, Fall Back-To-School Picnic, and Pizza & Game Nights. These events are made possible through the generous support of our parent volunteers in addition to the Annual Fund.


Your investment can make an immediate difference and chance a student's future. Your impact can start today with a gift of any size.

Unsure of how much to contribute? Gifts of any size are greatly appreciated! Check out the MSB Annual Fund Giving Levels and make a gift in the amount that best matches your resources and your priorities.

  • $25 covers the cost of supplies for library materials.
  • $35 provides the staple food items for one class to prepare snacks.
  • $150 covers the cost of classroom animal care for one week.
  • $600 covers the cost of 1 student's education for one week.


For every 10 donors who give $100 each to the Annual Fund, a $1,000 of support becomes possible!


Here for all – and focused on each – of our students, MSB makes a lasting impression on people’s lives. By donating to The Annual Fund, you are giving students the opportunity to continue making their impression on the world.


MSB Leadership Circle

Innovators $5,000 and up

Pioneers $2,500 - $4,999

Adventurers $1,000 - $2,499

MSB Builders

Trailblazers $1,000- $1,499

Cultivators $500- $999

Family Tree $250- $499


MSB Friends

Woodland Friends $124-$249

Tender Roots $249-$500

FAQs

  • What is the Annual Fund and why is it important?

    The Annual Fund is the most important fundraising program at the Montessori School of the Berkshires. It's an essential component of the school's operating budget and supports many critical areas including faculty salaries and professional development, financial assistance, and our signature programs. Tuition does not cover all of our operating costs, creating a gap between tuition income and budgeted operating expenses. Annual Fund gifts help us to close this gap and allows for more flexibility in budget setting so that a Montessori School of the Berkshires education is widely accessible to a diversified pool of qualified applicants.

  • Why can't tuition cover the school expenses?

    It could.... if we raised it high enough. The administration and the Board of Trustees consider this option every year when they recommend and set tuition levels. MSB families fall within a wide socio­-economic range, and it is important to keep tuition at a reasonable level in order to maintain affordability and to sustain the quality of our teaching staff and educational programs. It is a conscious decision by the Board to trust that our various constituencies will bridge this gap with their Annual Fund contributions. Tax-wise, funding educational  expenses  partially  through charitable donations is certainly more advantageous to our families than simply paying more in tuition.

  • We pay tuition. How can the school expect us to contribute more?

    The education that your child receives at MSB simply costs more than the tuition you pay. Not everyone can make up for that gap. Some families can do more, and we hope they will. Others can give less and we welcome that as well.  The important thing is that each family makes a meaningful gift for themselves. Each and every child benefits from the Annual Fund so it is important that every family pitch in to the best of its ability.

  • Why doesn't the school simply cut expenses?

    MSB is very prudent when it comes to budgeting. Because most of the school's expenses are in salaries and benefits, we can't eliminate too many costs without seriously jeopardizing the quality of our programs.

  • What is an appropriate Annual Fund contribution?

    At MSB, Annual Fund gifts range from $15 to more than $5,000. The size of a gift depends on a family's means, BUT a gift from every parent is our goal. No gift is too small - all gifts are welcome, tax-deductible and make a difference.

  • Who participates in the Annual Fund?

    Each year, all members of the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, current parents and grandparents, alumni/ae parents, alumni/ae and friends of the school are asked to make a contribution to the Montessori School of the Berkshires' Annual Fund.

  • Why is participation in the Annual Fund so vital?

    Each Annual Fund gift inspires giving from other families. Annual Fund participation is also an important measure of our success: if we serve our families by meeting our institutional goals, families will support our efforts. By participating, each family expresses confidence in the school's mission  and helps ensure future prosperity. Additionally, as an inclusive community, we want every family to do their part to help provide the type of financial assistance every student receives  through the Annual Fund. Everyone's participation is equally important and helps strengthen and unite our community behind MSB's mission.

  • We give a lot of time to the school; do we still need to make a gift? or question

    We are blessed with a community that gives willingly of its time and talent. These commitments are deeply appreciated and vital to our existence, but the school still needs to cover the full cost of each student's education. The $30,000 Annual Fund Giving Day goal is critical to MSB. We don't  want  you to withdraw your support from other programs or events, but we hope that you make giving to the Annual Fund a priority.

  • Can Annual Fund donations be made anytime during the year?

    We welcome contributions to the Annual Fund at any point during the year, though gifts and pledge payments must be received by June 30, 2024 to be counted in the 2023-2024 Annual Fund. Making a pledge or gift early in the school year, however, helps shape our current operating budget. Many donors choose to make their Annual Fund donation in December - prior to the end of the calendar year.

  • How are donors recognized?

    Unless they choose to remain anonymous, all donors are recognized in MSB's Annual Giving Report

Gifts received on the Day of Giving will support the MSB Annual Fund. These contributions have an immediate impact on our students’ day-to-day experience by providing financial support for the school’s operating budget. These gifts are essential to MSB's ability to meet the needs of students and faculty members every day — bolstering our resources and enabling us to provide the robust educational experience you can only find at The Montessori School of the Berkshires . Your support on the Day of Giving will help MSB to sustain and expand its offerings, enhance community programming and support students! Your investment also gives us the ability to attract and retain exceptional faculty.