The Annual Fund

Annual Fund Goal: $3.75 Million

The US Annual Fund supports faculty compensation and professional development, enabling US to attract, develop, and retain outstanding teachers. 

University School students are the ultimate beneficiaries of our support as they learn from teachers, mentors, and coaches who are experts in their field and who show extraordinary care for student learning. Participation in the Annual Fund is a powerful demonstration of our confidence in the school and commitment to ensuring its continued strength.

Along with providing competitive salaries for teachers, the Annual Fund supports faculty grants, so teachers can pursue professional development opportunities that contribute significantly to their growth in their area of service. These awards support a wide range of activities such as conferences and workshops, curriculum development projects, graduate studies, or independent projects to study or write. They can take place locally or across the globe.

For more information, visit our FAQs.

Fast Facts

List of 3 items.

  • 3.75 Million

    2024-25 Annual Fund Goal

  • June 30, 2025

    Deadline for the 2024-25 Annual Fund

  • 2,249

    Number of donors last year

Ways to Give

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

  • Mail a Check

    To mail a check, please be sure to include your name, address, and contact information as well as information about your donation. Make the check out to University School and mail to:
     
    University School Annual Fund
    2785 SOM Center Road
    Hunting Valley, OH 44022-9972

  • Call

    To make a gift with a credit card or to make a pledge over the phone, please contact Teresa Bell.
     
    Annual Fund Assistant
    (216) 292-2157

  • Give Online

    Give online by clicking HERE or visiting www.us.edu/makeagift

  • Give Monthly

    Click HERE to set up a monthly gift online.

    Setting up a monthly gift is a convenient and customizable way to make your Annual Fund gift in support of University School. You may set up an automatic monthly gift from your credit card, debit card, or as a bank transfer. You may also choose to continue this recurring gift for a specific time period such as 1 year, 5 years, or indefinitely.

  • Gifts of Stock

    Download Instructions HERE

  • Matching Gift - Maximize Your Impact

    With matching gifts you can sometimes double or even triple your gift!

    Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match charitable contributions made by their employees. To find out if your company has a matching gift policy, please click HERE or visiting www.us.edu/matching-gift.

  • Make a gift through the Ohio Tax Credit Scholarship Program

    Through this state program, you are able to provide scholarship support to US students and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for your gift up to $750 ($1,500 for married couples filing jointly) to reduce your state tax liability.

    To make a qualifying donation, you may make a gift directly through the Ohio Association of Independent School (OAIS) website at https://oais.gosgo.co/donations/new. When prompted, select "University School."

    Per Ohio guidelines, donations given through this program will directly benefit scholarship students, with priority given to low-income students.

    All donations through this program will be distributed to University School, and you will receive Annual Fund recognition for your restricted gift to financial aid.

Get Involved!

Join the more than 200 parents, alumni, and friends who volunteer for the Annual Fund each year.  For more information, contact Assistant Director of the Annual Fund Hannah Kish at hkish@us.edu or 216-292-2156 or fill out the form here. 

FAQ's

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

  • What is the Annual Fund?

    The Annual Fund is a yearly campaign that seeks philanthropic support for the school.

  • What does the Annual Fund support?

    Here at US, the Annual Fund supports faculty compensation and professional development, allowing US to offer nationally competitive salaries and provide significant professional development opportunities for faculty.  Research shows there is no greater influence on student outcomes than teacher quality.*  As masters of their discipline, our faculty and staff mentor our students with integrity and compassion.  US boys know excellence when they see it and build the strength to achieve it themselves.

    *Glenn Whitman and Ian Kelleher, Neuroteach Brain Science and the Future of Education (Lanham, MD: Rowmann & Littlefield, 2016).

  • Who contributes to the Annual Fund?

    We receive gifts from parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, grandparents of alumni, current and former faculty and staff, students, friends, corporations, and foundations. All members of the US community are encouraged to participate.

  • Why does it matter?

    The Annual Fund has a significant impact on the school’s ability to attract, develop and retain outstanding teachers.  A decade ago, we were in the bottom quartile for faculty salaries among our peer schools in the region.  Thanks to Annual Fund growth, we are currently the regional compensation leaders.  The financial support provided to the school by the Annual Fund allows US to continue to increase faculty salaries while keeping tuition increases low. In addition, Annual Fund support allows US to provide robust and meaningful professional development opportunities.  These experiences enrich and strengthen US faculty.  US boys are the ultimate beneficiaries of your support as they learn from teachers, mentors and coaches who are experts in their field and who show extraordinary care for student learning. Participation in the Annual Fund is a powerful demonstration of your confidence in the school and commitment to ensuring its continued strength.  

  • How much should one give?

    The entire US community is asked to contribute to the best of their ability.  We hope parents will make US a philanthropic priority while their son(s) attends the school.  We hope alumni recognize the critical importance US played in their development and success and will support the school’s ability to provide a similar opportunity for those who follow. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated.  Each brings us closer to reaching our goal in support of faculty.

  • When can one make a gift?

    Any time before the close of the fiscal year on June 30. Check out the Ways to Give section to learn how about how to make your gift.

  • What are the Annual Fund Recognition Levels?

    Tower Society 
    Founders Circle$50,000+
    Anderson Circle$25,000-$49,999
    Peters Circle$18,900-$24,999
    McKinley Circle$10,000-$18,899
    Maroon & Black Circle$5,000-$9,999
    Main Circle$2,500-$4,999
    Goodwillie Society$500-$2,499
    Young Alumni Tower Society
    Class Years 2006-2010 $1,000
    Class Years 2011-2015 $500
    Class Years 2016-2020 $250 
    Class Year 2021$100
    Class Year 2022$75
    Class Year 2023$50
    Class Year 2024$25

Annual Fund Leaders

2024-25 Annual Fund Chair
TJ Rose '96
 
2024-25 Tower Society Chair
Ryan Schreiber '09
 
2024-25 Parent Chairs
Lily and Drew Simon, Parents '31

2024-25 Vice Parent Chairs
Holyn and Jack Koch, Parents '26

2024-25 Young Alumni Tower Society Chair 
Adam Daroff '10

2024-25 Senior Parent Chairs 
TBD

2024-25 Faculty Chairs 
Sam and Jeff Pierce, Parents '34 and '35

Annual Fund Office

Ben Malbasa '96
Director of the Annual Fund
bmalbasa@us.edu
(216) 292-2147

Hannah Kish
Assistant Director of the Annual Fund 
hkish@us.edu
(216) 292-2156 

Teresa Bell
Annual Fund Assistant
tbell@us.edu
(216) 292-2157

Shaker Heights Campus JUNIOR K – GRADE 8

20701 Brantley Road, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
Phone: (216) 321-8260

Hunting Valley Campus GRADES 9 – 12

2785 SOM Center Road, Hunting Valley, Ohio 44022
Phone: (216) 831-2200
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