Gifts may be conveniently made online. Checks may be mailed to the school or delivered to either school office. Black Pine Circle School is a 501(c)(3) and all gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Federal Tax ID: 94-1700-228
Employer matching gifts can double or even triple your contribution.

• Pledges are accepted and you can designate the timing.
• Recurring payment options are available.
• Non-cash gifts are gratefully received in support of school needs. Donations of computers, office equipment, or other valuable items are very much appreciated, and will be acknowledged formally.

If you have questions about the Annual Fund, or fundraising in general, please contact Director of Development John Ormsby or call (510) 529-2715.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the considerable challenges it poses for BPC families and the school itself, we have decided to rename and reframe the Annual Fund Campaign (AFC) for this school year. The Resilience Fund Campaign (RFC) shares many of the same objectives as the AFC, most notably raising charitable donations to support our financial assistance program. This year, however, we will be using the RFC to also spotlight the considerable, unanticipated investments BPC continues to make to implement a strong distance-learning program, prepare our campus for the safe return of students and faculty, and ensure that we are well-positioned to succeed when the pandemic eases. The Resilience Fund is BPC’s top giving priority this year.

The Resilience Fund Campaign will formally commence in November and conclude on June 30, 2021. Families can expect to receive one or more written appeals for support in the fall, and additional appeals in the spring as needed.

BPC has made substantial investments in human resources including hiring a full-time campus health coordinator and designated distance learning specialists. We have also invested heavily in classroom technologies, such as iPads, Chromebooks, cameras, microphones, online learning platforms, and related training. Our school has also acquired a large supply of PPEs and cleaning and disinfecting products. We have upgraded our facilities by installing touchless water faucets, posting new signage, upgrading HVAC systems, acquiring portable wash stations, toilets, and tents, and much more. Crucially, the school has also committed substantial additional dollars to support members of our community who need additional financial support this year, as well as enable a more diverse range of prospective families to afford a BPC education.

Because the Resilience Fund touches every student, we ask every family to give every year. We also ask every member of the board of directors, and invite faculty and staff, alumni, alumni families, grandparents and other friends and family members, local businesses, and foundations to make contributions as they can.

Only you can answer this question. And we understand that this year may be different for you than other years. We ask families to make BPC their charity of choice while their children are attending. We suggest families contribute at a level that is meaningful to them, reflects their belief in BPC’s mission, and is in keeping with their circumstances.

Yes. Gifts to the Annual Fund are deductible to the extent allowed by law. BPC is a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our Federal Tax ID is 94-1700228.

As part of their own community investment efforts, many companies match charitable donations made by their employees. If available, this is a very effective way to double and sometimes triple the impact of a donation. BPC has benefited greatly in recent years from employer matching contributions. Inquire at your company to see if this benefit is available. Contact Director of Development John Ormsby with any questions, for assistance with any paperwork, or for online verification.

Every year, parent volunteers produce the Spring Soirée, BPC’s lively themed-party and auction. All families are encouraged to attend, socialize, eat, drink, dance, and support BPC by bidding on auction items. Spring Soiree ticket sales and auction purchases do not count toward participation in the Annual Fund Campaign. However, the “Raise the Paddle” portion of the live auction goes directly to the Annual Fund and is counted as – or as part of – your family’s gift.

A gift of appreciated securities is frequently the most economic way to give. You will be eligible to take a federal income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the stock* on the date of the gift (for up to thirty percent of your adjusted gross income) and will not have to recognize the appreciation of the stock as capital gain. You may obtain details on the transfer of securities by calling Black Pine Circle School’s Development office at 510-529-2715.

Appreciated marketable real estate is another asset with which you may make a significant gift to Black Pine Circle School. A gift of real estate will entitle you to a federal income tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the property.* You will need to substantiate this value with an appraisal. You may take this deduction for up to thirty percent of your adjusted gross income and any excess over that amount you may carry over for up to five additional years. With gifts of securities, we recommend that you consult your financial adviser.

*If you are an alternative minimum taxpayer, you may have to exclude the appreciated portion of the value of your gift of appreciated property from your deduction thereby limiting your income tax deduction to your basis in the asset.

Black Pine Circle School greatly encourages and appreciates future gifts made through one’s estate plan. Providing a provision in your will for Black Pine Circle School will benefit future generations of students.

A gift in honor may be given in the name of an individual on the occasion of a significant life event. The individual so honored receives notification of the gift identifying the donor, but without specifying the amount of the gift.

At times, donors have offered the school larger gifts, with the goal of stimulating higher giving overall from the broader community. The availability and timing of such matching gifts is uncertain year to year. The school endeavors to announce any such gift as early as possible in the school year, so families can plan their giving accordingly. If you would like to discuss making a matching gift yourself, please contact John Ormsby at jormsby@blackpinecircle.org

Yes. Occasional capital campaigns provide additional funds for major campus improvements. Past campaigns have made possible the renovation of the Fine Arts and Drama building (FAD), the construction of the Founders’ Building (library), the addition of the climbing wall, the purchase of the Addison Street property, and most recently the Q Lab: A Space for Science & Inquiry. We have no campaigns under consideration at this time.