Every gift to St. Paul’s School contributes to our mission of educating students to build purposeful lives in service to the greater good. We honor and thank donors for their commitment to our School community through four recognition societies: The Shattuck Society, The 1856 Society, The Sheldon Society and The Hargate Society. Members of each society are recognized in the Annual Report.
The Shattuck Society, named for George Cheyne Shattuck, the School’s founder and first endowed fund donor, honors the generous SPS alumni and families whose lifetime giving exceeds $1 million.
Named for the iconic landmark in the center of campus, The Sheldon Society honors loyal donors whose affection for the School is demonstrated through consecutive giving of five-plus years.
Members of the Hargate Society have expressed their commitment by naming St. Paul’s School as a beneficiary of a planned gift. Click here to learn more.
The 1856 Society, named in honor of the School’s founding year, recognizes donors who support SPS through annual, unrestricted gifts each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Collectively, these gifts are a critical source of revenue for the School’s ability to provide a transformational experience for every student.
$100,000+
$50,000–$99,999
$25,000–$49,999
$10,000–$24,999
$5,000–$9,999
$2,500–$4,999
$1,000–$2,499
$1–$999
Francesca Gardner ’00 had a formative experience at the School and knew she’d always prioritize staying connected. She’s done so in part by being a 24-year supporter of The SPS Fund. Along the way, she’s realized that her appreciation for the opportunities she found at SPS, along with the faculty who nurtured her love of learning and the beautiful grounds, only deepens.
“I have a special fondness for my SPS experience. When I give, I hope I am helping to preserve those important places and beautiful traditions that I still appreciate so much,” she says. “And I give in part to honor and celebrate the lifelong friendships that trace back to that wonderful time and place. I hope that others who are able will join in making a leadership gift and sustaining the SPS traditions and memories that are most special to them. In turn, their example will inspire others to give — it’s a ripple effect.”
St. Paul’s School thanks and recognizes the early leadership of those who support their alma mater even as they continue their education and establish careers.
$100+
$250+
$500+
$1,000+
Lucas Gomez-Doyle ’18 was balancing rigorous public high school academics with dance training at Joffrey Ballet when he decided he wanted even more rigor in both arenas. St. Paul’s School sounded right for him, and when he visited the grounds, he felt such love and care that it was an easy decision to enroll as a Fifth Former. “I wanted a school that wanted me back, and SPS did,” Lucas says. “My experience there is so binding that it can’t be replicated.”
In chapel, he cherished the opportunity to hold community and reflect on what it means to exist in a space with others — not just to tolerate neighbors but to build a family and love each other, he says. He carries with him the strong work ethic and the dedication to learning that he honed at SPS, and Lucas’ appreciation for his experience inspires him to give back as both a form volunteer and a consistent supporter of The SPS Fund.
One-quarter of the endowment comes from bequests.
Assuming a spending rate from the endowment of 4.6%, it would take about $130 million in additional endowment dollars to have the same impact as $6 million in annual SPS Fund dollars.
The SPS Fund provides 12% of the School’s annual operating budget.