Fundraising FAQ

Every gift – at every level – counts. A high parent participation rate shows the faculty that parents recognize and support their work. Our fundraising participation rates are motivating, as much 100% from the Board of Trustees, 83% from faculty and staff and 70% from current families. When approaching outside entities for support, high participation rates among constituencies are convincing.

Gifts range from 10€ to several thousand euros. No gift is too small and every gift is important, because as a whole they make a huge difference in the education and extracurricular experience we are able to offer American Section students. Please be as generous as your circumstances allow.

Many members of our community are committed to very worthy causes. We hope that they also consider their children’s school to be a philanthropic priority. The Section dedicates part of its donation income to teaching children about community service and global citizenship while they are students here, and to helping those in need to attend the American Section.

Yes. The Section is very grateful to receive support through generous matching gift programs, which can double or triple the size of a gift. Please let us know if your employer has a matching gift program.

There are many ways to give to the American Section, and volunteering allows parents to donate valuable assets – time and talent – to benefit our school and our students. Donating treasure to the Annual Fund is another essential way for parents to make a difference, by supporting innovations and programs that would otherwise not exist.

Some Annual Fund initiatives include:

• Technology– tools in the classroom that provide the opportunity for real 21st century learning, such as iPads and Chromebooks
• Special programs- co-curricular enrichment programs such as college counseling workshops, health programs, and Writer in Residence
• Student awards - to enable students to pursue valuable personal projects
• Teacher training– opportunities for American Section faculty to benefit from the latest in American best-practice pedagogy
• Emergency assistance for families to help with tuition and trips
• Library– online resources and databases for students and faculty

• Special projects – Curriculum mapping, our adminstrative database, Lower School project week, classroom remodelling

An online auction is a public sale on the internet of items and services are sold to the highest bidder. You can participate by checking out what is in store at our online auction site and bidding for an item that you like. The higher the bid on an item, the more money the Section raises. So make sure to keep on bidding. This year, our procurement team has already secured concert tickets, camp stays, dining vouchers in 5-star restaurants and much more.  

In addition, there will also be live and silent auctions on the night the Gala, featuring premium items. 

The evening’s funds are raised through corporate sponsorships, raffle ticket sales, the live auction and Raise the Paddle charitable donation round, the silent on-line and on-site auctions, class baskets and donations, the photo booth, and other activities that take place on the evening itself. The Gala ticket sales only cover the cost of the event.  

The Gala is primarily attended by Section parents and members of the faculty and staff. We also invite corporate sponsors, local VIPs, and alumni to come and lend their support. Also on hand are an energetic pool of Section Upper School students to help with the evening’s activities.

The Annual Fund is an annual year-long fundraising initiative where all families, faculty, and staff are asked to make a donation. Proceeds from the Annual Fund are used to finance a variety of vital programs and initiatives in the Section, and we strive for 100% participation from our families. Contributions to the Annual Fund are tax deductible under French law, so 66% of your donation qualifies as a tax credit on your French income taxes. Donors can also elect where they want to allocate their donations. In 2019 the Annual Fund raised 90,304€. 

The Gala is an annual fundraising event held in an evening where items and services that have been donated are auctioned off for the benefit of the Section. The Gala also raises money to finance the American Section’s Annual Fund initiatives, but only the Raise the Paddle fundraising event at the Gala is tax deductible, as it alone is a pure financial contribution to the Section.