Giving Day Participation Challenge

What is the SPARK Giving Day Participation Challenge?

For many, GivingTuesday refers to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is a global movement to create an international day of charitable giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration following Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday at the beginning of the holiday season. In our school community, we celebrate Giving Day as the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break.

What is the Contest?

While our year-end Annual Giving goal is always 100% participation, this year’s Giving Day goal is 70%. In order for you to be counted for the purposes of the Participation Challenge, your online donation or pledge must be received by November 15th 11:59 pm PST or postmarked on or before November 15. Any donation of any amount counts! Donations made by a family will count towards each student in that family for participation purposes.

So, a pledge counts towards the contest?

Yes! We are happy to provide an opportunity for families to demonstrate their commitment and have it count towards the Giving Day Participation Challenge. However, since a small portion of the pledges we receive annually remain unfulfilled, this has caused SPARK to write off anticipated revenue. In 2021-2022, this amount was $16K. Because of this, any families who did not fulfill any part of their pledge in the last two years, will not be counted until we receive the 1st pledge installment.

Why is SPARK doing this now?

Since money that we raise this school year pays for programs, teachers and materials in this same school year, it is important that families make their Annual Giving commitment as early as possible. In addition, by reaching our financial goal earlier in the school year it allows the Foundation to adequately plan for future funding. If our fundraising goal is not met, future cuts to programs may occur. We all want to make sure this doesn’t happen.

What if we’ve already donated or pledged?

Great – you’re all set. Thank you for being one of our 200+ donors to date. Check our list to make sure your name is on it. Encourage your friends and neighbors to donate or pledge this month.

How do I know that our donation has been counted?

Every donation that is received by November 15th will be counted. While we are happy to provide an opportunity for families to demonstrate their commitment with the pledge now, pay later option, a small portion of pledges we receive annually remain unfulfilled, which has caused SPARK to write off anticipated revenue. In 2021-2022, this amount was $16K. Because of this, any families who did not fulfill any part of their pledge in the last two years, will not be counted until we receive the 1st pledge installment.

Will donations made anonymously be counted?

Donors who choose not to have their name listed on the website or year end donor roster will have the opportunity to select this option when making their donation and will be counted towards the Participation Challenge.

Where can I see the list of families who have donated?

Here!

We have more than one child in the District, how does our donation get counted?

Your donation or pledge count towards participation for each grade that you have children attending.

What happens when we reach 70%?

When we reach 70% by November 15th, every student will receive a coupon for a sweet treat from Easy Breezy!

Is there a raffle?

Yes! All families who made a donation or pledge through Annual Giving will be entered in our Giving Day raffle. We will be sharing more details around prizes soon.

How can I increase my chances of winning?

Every family who participates gets one raffle entry; if you are a new family making a donation or pledge, you will receive two raffle entries; if you are a returning family who has increased their donation or pledge over last year, you will also receive two raffle entries.

What are the Prizes?

• When we reach 70% of families donating or pledging by November 15th, every student gets a coupon for frozen yogurt courtesy of Easy Breezy in Town Center Corte Madera.
• The K-5 grade level with the highest participation wins a special goody bag for each student chock-full of fun items.
• The grade level at Hall with the highest participation wins a special Kona Shaved Ice party.
• Classes at Neil Cummins and Cove and advisory classes at Hall with 100% participation will have an opportunity to win customized hoodies for every student in the class. (Please note: tie-breaker will be based on dollars raised)
• Your donation automatically enters you in our raffle drawings! NEW this year – there will be incentive drawings on our way to 70% participation. Prizes include a $100 Nugget gift card at 50%, a $250 Picco gift card at 60% and a grand prize $500 Apple gift card when we reach 70% of families donating or pledging by November 15th. 
• Want extra chances to win? New District families and returning families with a higher donation than last year will receive two entries in the raffles.