Patron Drive
The Foundation Annual Patron Drive
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The Foundation is funded by Mt. Bethel families, staff, friends and corporate matching funds that are donated during our annual Patron Drive, our ONLY fundraiser of the year! The annual Patron Drive takes place in the month of October of each school year. Additional funding for the Foundation is provided through a percentage of tuition that is given back to the Foundation from our FACT programs.
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The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) and anyone can make a tax deductible contribution that will directly support the extra programs, instructors, technology, and staff resources that we provide our children beyond what Cobb County School System funding.
Q: How do I know you received my donation?
A: You will receive two email confirmations! When your donation is submitted, an email confirmation will be sent to the email address you provided from PayPal immediately. This step signifies that we did receive your donation. An official tax receipt for your donation will be sent within a week from the Mt. Bethel Elementary School Foundation email. If you've sent in your donation and an email confirmation has not been received within two weeks, please notify us immediately at datamanager@mbesf.org.
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Q: Can I donate more than $150.00 per student?
A: YES! We request a minimum amount of $150.00 per child but we have many families that generously donate above the recommended amount. Remember, 100% of your donated amount directly impacts Mt. Bethel students’ education.
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Q: Is my donation Tax Deductible?
A: YES! As an educational, non-profit, 501(c)(3) public foundation, all donations are tax deductible.
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Q: Will I receive a receipt for my taxes?
A: YES...via E-MAIL! Tax receipts for donations received will be emailed within a week of receipt. Please include your e-mail address along with your donation.
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Q: Are donations accepted via check?
A: YES! You can donate by completing the paper donation form located on the bottom of the Foundation webpage here. You can mail your donation to the address below, send it via your child’s backpack or drop it off at the front office. Please specify Attention MBES Foundation on the envelope to ensure delivery.
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Q: When will I get my car magnet?
A: When we receive your donation. A magnet will be sent to you within a week, via the youngest member of the family, when a donation of $150 is received. If you've not received your magnet within two weeks of your donation and feel this is an error, please email patron@mbesf.org.
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Q: What does my donation support?
A: Our mission is to ENRICH, EMPLOWER, and EXCEL every child’s education. To that end, your donations support deliberate and thoughtful investments in Mt. Bethel’s students, teachers, and staff. The Foundation aims to grant requests that touch each student in a meaningful way. Your supports allows us to say YES when administrators and teachers come to us with great ideas to move our school forward in ways that otherwise would not be possible due to funding.
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Our initiatives typically focus on teaching and learning tools, but also include two instructor salaries and other enriching and empowering experiences. Please see the list of specific grants made in past years under the WHAT WE DO tab.
Q: Does my donation go towards any operating expenses?
A: While a perfect world would include non-profits that spend $0.00 on operating costs, that is simply not sustainable for any non-profit organization. Our Board of Trustees, however, ensures these costs are kept at an absolute minimum, and a typical fiscal year shows our operating expenses to be 2-2.5% of total expenditures.