Opportunities and Policies

  • OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING

    MATCHING GIFTS
    Many companies encourage their employees to make charitable contributions by matching their philanthropic support - often at a dollar for dollar rate. The impact of corporate matching support can be enormous. Contact your payroll officer or human resources department to see if your company or organization matches giving. Matching gifts must be confirmed through communication between the business and our Development Office. Orenda Education's non-profit identification number is 74-2774612.

    IN HONOR/IN MEMORY
    Remember a loved one or friend by giving a gift to Orenda Education in their honor. We will send a card to the recipient you choose. The honoree will be listed in upcoming donor listings.

    IN-KIND
    You may make a gift of new or slightly used items on our wish list or provide gift cards from retail merchants (i.e. Target, Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Kohl's, Macy's, etc.)

    PLANNED GIVING
    Planned giving uses tax, financial, and estate planning techniques to enable a donor to make a substantial gift commitment that provides significant tax and financial benefits for the donor. To learn more about Planned Giving opportunities, please contact the Development Office at 512.869.3020.

    Types of Planned Gifts:

    • Outright Gifts: Cash, marketable securities, real estate, tangible personal property, life insurance, stock
    • Gifts with Retained Benefits to Donor:
      • Charitable Gift Annuity - Donor receives fixed income for life. Gateway receives gift principal immediately
      • Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust - Donor receives a fixed income from a charitable remainder trust. Gateway receives remainder.
      • Charitable Remainder Unitrust - Donor receives variable income from a charitable remainder trust. Gateway receives remainder.
      • Charitable Income (Lead) Trust - A lead trust pays income to Gateway, and the trust principal reverts to the donor or passes to their heirs at the end of the set period.
    • Gifts by Will
    • Stock Power Transfer Letter...click here

    Naming Opportunites...

    You may choose to honor your family, friends or others far into the future will your major contribution on behalf of the honoree.  The following facility naming opportunities are available.  Click here to see comprehensive listings.

     

    THE FINE PRINT: GIVING & PRIVACY POLICIES

    Matching Gifts vs. Out-of-Pocket Donations: Associated "Benefits" Based on Levels of Giving Reached

    Our policy concerning levels of giving and incentives for doing so mirrors what the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) allows an individual to deduct as a charitable contribution.  Corporate matching gifts are not recognized by the IRS as an individual's charitable contribution.

    Another reason for this policy is that if another Gateway parent gives the same amount, but is self-employed and/or does not work for a company that offers a matching gift program, that parent is equally generous in the view of our non-profit organization.   In order words, we don't believe a special benefit should be awarded to those givers who happen to work for a company that provides a matching gift benefit that is not available to those who don't work for such a business.

    Credits, benefits, recognition and awards are based on the person's individual sacrifices and generosity.   In addition to recognizing individuals for their generosity, we also recognize those corporations and organizations which are also generous in support of our school mission. 

    We would hope that the reason for a giver to request a company match (should such exist) is because it is available and will BENEFIT THE SCHOOL, THEIR CHILD AND ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GATEWAY.  Corporate matching gifts are a vital source of revenues that help Gateway College Prep to make up just some of the funding shortfall with which public charter schools have to deal. 

    Advertising Opportunities vs. Charitable Donations: Keeping Them Separate

    There are several advertising and/or marketing opportunities for area businesses to take advantage of including our school's enrolled student families.  Examples are advertising on a banner or scorer's table lighted panels in our Auxiliary Gym. 

    However, In order for parents to do so, they must first be contributors to the Annual Gator Fund at the $1,200 per year level (minimally) annually.  That is because our organization does not want parents to "substitute" advertising payments in lieu of contributions to the Annual Gator Fund, which benefits the school's academic programs, extracurricular offerings and school faculty compensation (i.e. competitive salaries to attract and retain quality teachers).

    Donor Privacy Policy

    At Gateway College Prep, we respect the privacy of our donors and are committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in all fundraising efforts. We will not share, loan, trade, rent, or sell our donor list to other organizations.  We collect and use information about our donors including name, address, phone number, email address, mailing preferences, and giving history. This information is kept on file for IRS purposes and is used by our Development Office to analyze overall giving patterns in order ot make more accurate budget projections and plan for the future. Information on our donors is password-protected and may only be accessed by individuals who need such information to perform their assigned duties.

     

  • Austin E

  • "I wasn't lost in the crowd."

    Austin, Salutatorian, Class of 2015

    Baylor University Dean's List, 2015-16

    Looking for a smaller environment and challenging academics, Austin Echelberger joined Gateway College Prep during his high school years.  It quickly became evident to him that Gateway provided opportunities he was missing at his previous school. “Not only did my classes prepare me for college-level coursework, but I was able to be involved in so many activities.” Among those activities were National Honor Society, Varsity Baseball, and on-campus tutoring with elementary students.  Austin’s reputation as an outstanding student was solidified by his designation as Salutatorian.  But, like any student athlete, he remembers playing baseball as a highlight of his experience.  “In my previous, large-school environment, I would not have had the opportunity to play baseball,” he explains. “At Gateway, I was immediately accepted onto the team, and it meant a lot to be a part of that, especially getting to compete in the playoffs.”   He also cites his teachers as major factors in his success at Gateway, including Mr. Stroube: “His classes were very challenging and required hard work on my part, but his positive reinforcement and excellent teaching motivated me to succeed.”  Austin’s high school achievements allowed him to consider Southwestern University, Oklahoma University, Oklahoma State University, and The University of Texas at Austin before settling on Baylor University, where he made the Dean’s List as a freshman. “The college-based format of my classes at Gateway made the transition to Baylor pretty easy,” he explains.   A Biology major, Austin has balanced his challenging science-based coursework with intramurals and elective study sessions with fellow students.  Austin plans to pursue a career as a Physician’s Assistant.