How does Sacred Heart School ensure its financial sustainability for the future? Our funding structure is built upon four key pillars: tuition, parish assessments, the Sacred Heart Foundation, and our various fundraising initiatives, including the Booster Auction, Booster Memberships, the Annual Fund, Parchen Farm, fundraisers like greenery sales and butter braids, among others. Fundraising plays a critical role in supporting our operational budget.
Our tuition is designed to be affordable, currently the lowest among Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Lincoln. Additionally, many families benefit from financial support programs, which enable them not to pay the full tuition amount. These programs include the Diocesan Good Shepherd Scholarship, the Sacred Heart Guardian Angel Scholarship, the Diocese Work Ethic Grant for juniors and seniors, the Sacred Heart Staff Discount, and the Sacred Heart Fourth Child Free Scholarship. We aim to keep tuition accessible to ensure that all families can consider Sacred Heart as an option. This affordability is made possible through the generous contributions of individuals who support our school financially. If you wish to help maintain affordable tuition, consider donating to the Sacred Heart Guardian Angel Fund, which assists families in need who do not qualify for the Good Shepherd Scholarship, or contribute to the Sacred Heart Annual Fund, which directly aids our operating budget.
The Diocese Work Ethic Grant for juniors and seniors, established two years ago, provides significant support. Sponsored by the Peed Family of Sandhills Global, this grant offers up to $1,000 per student. It allows juniors and seniors to submit a record of up to 200 hours of work during the summer, compensated at $5 per hour. Students can account for time spent in various capacities, including paid employment, childcare, family farming, yard work, and more. This is then applied to the student’s tuition. The Peed Family’s initiative aims to recognize and promote productive work among our students, and we extend our gratitude to the Peed’s for their support in keeping our tuition low.
As with most schools, our largest expenses are salaries and benefits. We remain committed to improving our teachers’ compensation and benefits packages, having made notable progress over the past five years. Our teachers receive one of the higher base salaries within the Diocese for schools located outside of Lincoln, and our benefits offerings are also competitive.
The Sacred Heart Annual Fund requires continued strong support. Established seven years ago, it aims to bridge the gap between our expenses and income. This year, we have allocated a budget of $115,000 for the Annual Fund, while last year it generated $119,167. Give a one-time annual gift or set up a monthly EFT. The Annual Fund directly helps our school now. For those interested in long-term contributions, donating to the Sacred Heart Foundation (Endowment) is an excellent option. Established in 1984, the Sacred Heart Endowment generates interest to help sustain our school financially. This year, we anticipate that the Foundation will provide $360,000 to our school. If you are considering estate planning, think about leaving a percentage of a stock, bond, or IRA to support our school, or you might wish to include Sacred Heart School as a beneficiary in your will. For assistance with these giving options, please reach out to our Advancement Director, Renee Kopf, or Steve Kottich, who has volunteered to help with estate planning contributions.
Thank you to all who support Sacred Heart School. Thank you for your donations, volunteerism, and prayers.
