HOW MUCH IS RAISED AT ARBORFEST & HOW IS IT SPENT?
Funds Raised at Arborfest 2023
Arborfest 2023 had approximately 702+ attendees (including many alumni students and their families).
It takes the whole community to make Arborfest happen (and clean it all up), we had:
52+ co-chairs
190+ volunteers on Friday and Saturday
The KIDS raised $5,465 for Annie Ross House, including:
$558 from the Primary Store
$2,920 from the Basketeers’ Raffle
$1,987 from the Children's Booths
In total, we anticipate a gross revenue of about $127,903 at Arborfest, including:
$75,370 (approximately) raised from the Auction
$9,255 from the Country Store
$2,580 raised at the Wine Wall for the ACT Fellowship Fund.
$8,566 in direct donations for the Arena Refresh.
$2,482 worth of new books (and birthday books!) for the Arbor library.
Where does the money raised at Arborfest go?
Money raised at Arborfest goes to FOUR places: APT, Arbor, ACT Fellowship Fund, and the Annie Ross House.
Arbor Parents and Teachers Association (APT) Operating Budget– Financial Aid, Grants & Community-Building
A majority of Arborfest proceeds provide financial aid funds to Arbor families (Arbor handles all financial aid, APT just provides the funds to Arbor to manage). This year APT will provide approximately $36,000 in financial aid from our operating budget to Arbor, with an additional $9,310 from the 2023 Financial Aid Fundraiser & Trivia Night. APT also provides an annual contribution of about $17,000 as a disbursement from the APT Financial Aid Endowment (funded entirely by smaller parent donations from ~1994-2018). Arbor has a second endowed fund that is unrelated to APT but which is also dedicated to financial aid for current Arbor families, the Gray Fund.
Twice yearly in the spring and fall, the APT solicits and considers grant requests from community members. Grants enrich the Arbor experience for our students and faculty. APT will be asking YOU the community of parents, teachers, and staff for ideas for grants in the fall/spring— look for more information in this Friday Footnotes!
APT also supports community-building events, like Arborfest, New Parent Brunch, Parent Orientation Night, the 8s Parents Graduation Dinner, Room Parent Events ($300 budget/class), Staff Appreciation lunches, and more.
Arbor General Operating Budget
Arbor is the rare independent school that works to fund operating expenses primarily from tuition revenue. Because Arbor works to keep tuition affordable while doing so, funds raised by APT can be critical to responding to unforeseen expenses and to providing training and equipment that enriches the classroom experience in more typical times. Arbor and APT partner for the benefit of all Arbor students in this way.
Arbor Center for Teaching (ACT) Fellowship Fund
Proceeds from the wine wall (and direct donations) support the ACT Fellowship Fund. It means your wine wall purchase supports inclusion and equity within and beyond Arbor School. Want to know more about the ACT Fellowship Fund and Residency? Watch an ACT Overview Video here or check out the ACT website here: ArborCenterforTeaching.org
Annie Ross House
All the money raised by the kids at Arborfest— at the Primary store, the kids booths, and the 8th grade Basketeers raffle— goes to the Annie Ross House. The Annie Ross House is a shelter that serves families who are experiencing houselessness in Clackamas county. Since 1991, Arbor School has been fundraising for The Annie Ross House (a subsidiary of Northwest Housing Alternatives)— that's over 30 years— and in that time, we have donated more than $120,000!
HOW DOES APT RAISE FUNDS?
The APT has three revenue streams: APT Dues, Arborfest Profits and APT Lunch Program Profits. Together they provide the support for our Annual APT Budget. In addition, APT hosts an Annual Financial Aid Fundraiser to benefit Arbor’s Financial Aid Program.
What are APT Dues?
At the start of the school year, in an effort to kick off our annual fundraising efforts, each Arbor family is asked to pay annual APT dues of $35 per family.
What is Arborfest?
Arborfest is the APT’s Annual Community Building Fundraiser.
This event resembles a school-wide block party that celebrates our community and the coming year. It also raises important funds for APT and the Annie Ross House (a local shelter for families experiencing homelessness.) On the day itself, students run carnival-type booths for one another's entertainment; past and present families visit over food and drink; and entertainment is enjoyed by all. Parents also contribute to, and run, a silent auction, a country store, and a book sale to raise funds to support the school. A celebration of community has always been, and remains, at the heart of Arborfest.
What is the APT LUNCH PROGRAM (APT PIZZA FOR THE ARTS)?
This program facilitates the purchase and delivery of slices of pizza to students once a week. It gives interested parents a day off from preparing lunch and it provides a fun community meal for the students. Starting in 2023-24 school year, the funds raised by pizza will be used to fund visits from authors, artists, musicians and dance performers. The visits will be organized by volunteer parents, Arbor librarians and Arbor music teachers.
HOW DO I PAY FOR MY APT DUES & THE APT STUDENT LUNCH PROGRAM?
The APT Dues ($35) can be paid through the Arbor Parent Portal. Look for an email in the fall to sign up for the APT Student Lunch Program
Please submit these payments by the last Friday in October.
Questions? Please contact Arbor info@arborschool.org
FUNDRAISING CALENDAR: PLANNING YOUR GIVING
Looking to plan for fundraising? Want to know when APT, Arbor, ACT, or Room Parent might ask for funds?
Annually, parents are typically asked for fundraising dollars at the following times:
Late August/Early September:
APT Dues
APT Arts Pizza
Late September/Early October:
Arborfest - Auction proceeds and donations go to APT and Arbor
Arborfest - Wine Wall proceeds go to the ACT Fellowship Fund
Arborfest - Basketeer Raffle & Children’s Booth Tickets proceeds go to the Annie Ross House
Arborfest - Book Sale proceeds go to the Arbor Library
November/Giving Tuesday:
ACT Fellowship Fund (Donations collected online or by check)
December/End of Calendar Year:
Gifts for Teachers & Staff (Funds collected by Room Parents)
Arbor Facilities & Projects (Donations collected online or by check)
Late Spring/Summer:
“Nest Egg” of books (or other gifts) for ACT Teacher Residents as they graduate (every other year; Room Parents collect funds)
Annual Financial Aid Fundraiser (& Trivia Night!) — TBD for 2024-25 School Year
HOW DOES APT SPEND FUNDS (WHO BENEFITS AND HOW ARE THOSE DOLLARS SPENT)?
FUNDS SPENT ON ARBOR SCHOOL
Staff Appreciation: APT Provides Lunch for Every Arbor Employee Once A Month
Green Power: Annual Expense Supporting Our Commitment To Sustainable Energy
Grant Funds: In Fall and Spring, Arbor parents, faculty and staff are invited to submit grants to APT. Some previous year grants include:
Emergency Supplies
Conferences for Faculty & Staff
Library Computer
Budget for Nonfiction Library Books
3d Printer for Curiosity Lab and Makerspace
Audio-Visual Equipment, Projector and Cameras for classrooms
Woodshop Tools
Gardening Tools for Students; Beekeeper Workshop & Tools
P.E. High Jump Mat
Funds for the Procurement of a Visiting Author
800 Stainless Steel Forks for Arbor Events
Standing Pagoda Bells—Interactive Outdoor Musical Sculpture for Arbor Garden
FUNDS SPENT ON ARBOR COMMUNITY
Financial Aid: Funds Given to Arbor School for Disbursement to Families in Need
Events: Funds Provided for Arborfest, New Parent Brunch, Senior Parent Dinner, Field Day Tee-Shirts & Back To School Night
Community Building: Classroom Gatherings, Parent Education
APT Administrative: Quicken Software, Credit Card Fees, Stamps
Cash Reserves: Funds Still Available