Fundraising Update: Forging Our Future

November 23, 2021

Dear City of Lakes Waldorf School Community,

Greetings! Yesterday our school celebrated a major milestone: we made the final payment on our mortgage and own our school home!

We first moved into our home at 2344 Nicollet Avenue South in February of 2000, following a remarkable capital campaign where parents, faculty, and staff raised more than $1 million in just four months to fund the purchase of our historic building. The campaign was named, “It’s Time to Come Home,” and those who were here remember this time and recall what a tremendous and joyful effort was made by the entire school community to purchase, renovate and move into our permanent school home. In the early years, we were dependent on rental income and shared our building with small nonprofits and Watershed High School until June 2009, another milestone moment, when enrollment had grown strong enough to support full occupancy of our building.

Now, we find ourselves at another pivotal moment in our school’s history: we have outlined a plan to steward and enhance our beloved building and property to best serve our students for the next 21 years and beyond. As some of you may recall, we hosted a celebratory public launch party for our Capital Campaign, Affirming our Foundation and Forging our Future, on February 29, 2020. Two weeks later, we had to suspend in-person learning and made the decision to put our capital campaign efforts on hold as we prioritized the health and safety of our students, staff, and community.

Since that time we have continued to adapt and change to best meet the needs of our toddler through grade 8 students and families. Last year—thanks to the efforts of families like yours—we were successful in raising more than $370,000 to support our school’s operating budget and a safe start to our school year.  Your support has allowed us to continue to provide a rich Waldorf education to your children even as we attend to the profound impact of the global pandemic and the uprising for social justice on our community and the world. As a school community of teachers, staff, parents and students, we are learning and striving each day to move forward together with a spirit of openness, flexibility, and determination.

In that spirit, we share this update about the CLWS Forging Our Future Campaign. 

Forging Our Future Campaign: A New Approach

Today we are relaunching our fundraising efforts, and asking you to make a gift to our campaign. Our new campaign approach supports both the daily operating needs of the school and allows us to accomplish our capital goals. The Forging Our Future Campaign combines the traditional Annual Fund and the Capital Campaign by:

  • Setting a goal to raise $500,000 each year for the next three years
    • $200,000 will support the Annual Fund (general operating expenses including salaries and benefits, professional development, and tuition assistance for CLWS families)
    • $300,000 will support the Capital Campaign (see timeline and recap of goals below)
  • Every donor can choose how to dedicate their funds
    • Forging Our Future: Your gift will be used where it is most needed.
    • Capital Campaign: Your gift will exclusively support capital improvements.
    • Annual Fund: Your gift will go to support the daily operations of the school.

Capital Campaign Goals: A Timeline

Our Capital Campaign goals are based on a careful needs assessment and the feasibility study conducted by Panorama Consulting to ensure a vibrant future for our school community.

  • Year One, Summer 2022: Play Yard Renovation
  • Year Two, Summer 2023: Catering Kitchen/Kitchen Classroom/Gender-neutral Bathrooms
  • Year Three, Summer 2024: Exterior Facility Upgrades; i.e. roof repairs, tuck-pointing, snow guards and window replacement

Please consider your capacity to make a financial contribution over the next three years to support the Forging Our Future Campaign–which includes both annual operating needs and specific capital projects.

If you’re able to commit to a gift today, fantastic! Please donate here or reach out to Anne O’Connor via email at anneoconnor@clws.org or by phone at 608-606-4808 to discuss your pledge or gift.

As we enter the season of giving and restart our campaign efforts, we are excited about re-engaging our community around our goals to enhance our play yard and facilities for current students and generations to come!

Thank you for your generosity and support,

Melissa Wright, Board Chair
Marti Stewart, Administrative Director
Anne O’Connor, Development Director

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