Building. Excellence.
Nova Classical Academy’s Fundraising Drive is the Building. Excellence. campaign. The annual campaign focuses us on two goals: the creation of our permanent home and Nova’s ongoing pursuit of excellence in all ways.
Families who contribute a total of $25 or more to Nova are recognized as building givers and are aiding the Academy in building programs, resources, and support for all students at Nova for now and into the future. Thanks to donors from the Nova community, previously called “giving heroes,” Nova is poised to build a permanent home for all of our students that will sustain us for the next 100 years. We couldn’t have done it without your help. Your donations matter!
Families can make tax-deductible donations to Nova in two ways:
- Through the Give Every Month program, you can set a specific amount to be deducted automatically from an account of your choosing and utilize corporate matching programs.
- Families can give individual donations at any time to support the Academy and its many programs.
Does Nova have other sources of income?
In addition to public funds, Nova received two grants totaling $230,000 from the Walton Family Foundation in 2002 and 2006. These funds covered start-up costs and recruiting faculty, providing professional development for faculty, implementing the classical curriculum, purchasing the necessary technology and expanding the facilities. These funds are now depleted and must be replaced.
Although Nova continues to seek grant aid, individual giving must also be a part of this equation. For any nonprofit, individual giving is the most reliable and sustainable source of contributions. Individual giving has been an important part of Nova’s financial success and will become especially important as Nova fulfills its mission and adds a high school.
Nova has a commitment not to ask families to sell items such as candy and wrapping paper to help support the school. Instead, to pay for teacher training, enhanced curricular materials, and educational equipment, the school raises funds primarily through the Nova Annual Appeal and the Nova Community Auction.
Some parents choose to help finance the Nova PTO, which uses its money for school events and teacher appreciation, through participation in the annual Barnes and Noble book sale, the box Tops for Education program, Scrip and similar programs. These fundraisers help enhance the quality of community life for Nova, and funds raised in excess of Nova PTO needs are donated to Nova to help cover training and materials, but they are not primarily used for essential educational expenses.
Why give to a school that receives public funds?
In Minnesota, all public schools, district and charter, receive per-capita funds from the state. Nova and other charter schools also receive per-capita lease aid to offset building rental costs.
District public schools do not receive lease aid, but school boards can request more money from property owners in the district through a public referendum to levy taxes. Charter schools are without districts and cannot increase their funding through levies. When all sources of public funds are added up, the difference translates into a $3,000 gap per pupil on average for charter schools (source: Joe Nathan, director, Center for School Change, University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs).
Nova is a fiscally responsible school that operates in the black. Nova’s success is evidenced not only by academic achievement but by the ever-growing list of prospective students. To maintain Nova’s educational standards and achieve the full vision for the school, we must raise funds from inside and outside the Nova community.
- “As a teacher, I am able to teach a curriculum that is interesting and challenging to my students. In this endeavor, I am a partner with the parents in educating my students, and, together, we create students who will become thoughtful, articulate life-long learners.” Becky Lund, Teacher, 2nd Grade
How do I give to Nova?
You may give to Nova online HERE or by sending a check to:
Nova Classical Academy
426 Osceola Avenue S
Saint Paul, MN 55102
- Please let us know if your employer will match your donation.
- Donations to Nova are tax-deductible.
- Donors will be recognized in an annual report, to be published in August.
With the support of generous individuals, Nova can continue to grow and provide the high-quality public education for which it is known.
- “When I found out that my daughter and her husband were so pleased with what Nova was doing for one of their children that they decided to enroll the other two, I was confident that those children were getting a good, solid education. As a grandfather, that’s important to me.” Bill Kansas, Grandparent
