A Community of Generosity
Since our founding, Montessori Center School has provided a distinct and stimulating educational experience for thousands of young families who have been drawn to our mission to honor and develop the whole child. Sixty years in, we remain an integral part of Santa Barbara’s education ecosystem, and our school’s mission and guiding Montessori philosophy have never felt more salient. Every step of the way, MCS is bolstered by the generous philanthropic support of our community of parents, alumni and friends.
Annual Giving: The Fund for MCS
An independent school and 501c3 nonprofit organization, MCS employs a “tuition + philanthropy” financial model. Tuition remains the primary revenue source that funds our mission: to honor and develop the whole child. Philanthropic support at MCS provides essential and enriching resources that allow us to take a strategic and forward-thinking approach to delivering a high-value, authentic Montessori experience for our students at all ages.
The Fund for MCS is the school’s annual giving campaign. Each year our community of current and alumni families support MCS’s programs and people by making a contribution to The Fund for MCS. We invite the extended MCS family to support The Fund by participating in our two major fundraising efforts: the fall annual fund campaign and the spring MCS auction gala.
During the 2024-25 school year, our goal is to raise $450,000+ in total and to achieve 100% participation among our board of trustees and current parent community.
2024-25 giving priorities
As we look to the needs of today and begin dreaming about MCS’ bright future, donors are invited to consider supporting one of our three core giving priorities this year:
Area of greatest need
For many donors, an unrestricted annual gift is a meaningful way to demonstrate commitment and trust in Montessori Center School and the amazing people working each day to deliver a quality Montessori education to students. Gifts directed to our Area of Greatest Need fund provide essential resources that ensure the MCS team remains adaptable and responsive to the evolving needs of our students and programs. Examples include: investing in quality classroom materials, planned (and unplanned!) facilities improvements, and flexibility to provide additional student support when and where it's most needed.
Leadership in teaching
It’s hard to imagine a more effective or essential way to enrich the daily experience of every MCS student than to invest significant resources in the care, professional development and expertise of every member of the MCS staffulty: our incredible teachers and support staff. By modeling their own commitment to life-long learning, MCS teachers serve as remarkable examples as they grow and thrive alongside their students. Gifts directed to support Leadership in Teaching enable MCS to invest in our staffulty, providing meaningful and inspiring professional growth at every stage of their careers. Examples include: specialized instructional coaching, Montessori teacher training and certification, guest speakers, curriculum workshops and other all-staffulty trainings and team building initiatives.
Access & affordability
At MCS, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn in an environment that fosters curiosity, creativity and a love of learning. Your generous contributions to our Access & Affordability fund allow for children from diverse backgrounds to benefit from the transformative learning environment we provide. With your help, we can offer scholarships, tuition assistance and other forms of support to ensure that an MCS education remains within reach for families. By giving to this fund, you’re helping to build an inclusive and vibrant community where every child can thrive.
Ready to make an impact?
We welcome and celebrate gifts of any size. In recent years, our current families have made individual gifts ranging from $50 to $50,000. Every contribution we receive helps foster a community of generosity and shared responsibility in supporting our mission. Thank you. Your partnership is deeply appreciated!
To learn more about our giving opportunities and to discuss how you may wish to support this year’s Fund for MCS with your tax-deductible gift, please contact Director of Development Colin Donovan Wyatt: [email protected] or (805) 683-9383 x 105
Ways to make your gift
We want to make this simple for you!
Give by credit card or direct debit.
Write a check.
Checks should be made payable and mailed out to:
Montessori Center School
401 N. Fairview Ave. Ste. #1
Goleta, CA 93117
