Giving

The Excellence Fund is our annual, recurring effort that benefits every aspect of the LCDS experience – including arts, athletics, technology, and, of course, academics. The Excellence Fund impacts each and every student by helping to ensure the vibrancy and vigor that define our school. Because of its profound impact on the experience we are able to offer, we ask our community to make The Excellence Fund their highest philanthropic priority.

Lancaster Country Day School is fortunate to have an endowment in excess of $25 million. The principal funds are protected so that every year a portion of the endowment's interest revenue may be designated in support of scholarships, programs, and faculty salaries. 

Endowed funds help to sustain the school’s signature programs and support student scholarship awards. Many were established to honor individuals and their commitments to our school by giving back on an annual basis. Key among those funds are:

• The John A. & Sally M. Jarvis Scholarship: Established to honor the service, leadership and dedication of John Jarvis and Sally Jarvis, the scholarship bearing their name may be applied on an either need-based or merit-based basis. The John A. & Sally M. Jarvis Scholarship currently supports the merit-based Jarvis Scholars Program.
• The Dace Eaby Endowed Fund: To honor a remarkable 30 years in Lower School classrooms at LCDS, Sarah Eaby `09 organized alumni and their parents, Dace’s colleagues, family and friends to honor her mother by establishing The Dace Eaby Endowed Fund. Created upon her 2024 retirement, the endowment combines two of Dace’s great loves: students and travel. The Eaby Endowment provides financial assistance to help ensure that all LCDS Middle and Upper School students are able to participate in school-sponsored overseas trips.
• The Kate Gschwend Miller ‘90 Scholarship Endowment: Lancaster Country Day School Alumna and Teacher Kate Gschwend Miller will long be remembered in our school community by classmates, students and colleagues. This fund supplements the tuition of a Middle School student.
• The ROCK (Removing Obstacles through Community Kindness) Fund: While LCDS strives to remain financially within reach for as many families as possible, there are times when it is too much for some in our community to go beyond tuition and afford other expenses. In 2023, LCDS created the ROCK Fund to assist families in overcoming these barriers. Its creation is a clear reflection of the LCDS mindset of caring for each other and recognizing the importance of feeling like a full member of our school family.

LCDS is grateful to members of the community who invest in existing endowed funds, those who create new funds within their lifetimes and others who create funds through estate provisions.

To make a gift to an existing endowed fund, click here and choose the fund name or Endowment on the drop down menu. 

If you wish to make a lasting tribute to a classmate, teacher, friend or program by establishing an endowed fund, please contact Chief Advancement Officer Shelby LaMar at (717) 397-7240.
 

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognizes LCDS as an approved scholarship organization within the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs. These programs allow companies to make significant contributions to LCDS and to receive 90% tax credits in return. Any business with a Pennsylvania tax liability is eligible to participate. Last year, corporate partners gave LCDS more than $350,000. Corporate gifts range from $1,000 to more than $50,000. For more information, visit the PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development, our Gifts for Tax Credit or contact Shelby Lamar, our chief advancement officer.

While most of the philanthropic support that LCDS receives comes in the form of outright gifts of cash, did you know there are creative ways to support Lancaster Country Day School? Ways in which LCDS, you, and your loved ones all can benefit at the same time?

Such giving techniques are called "planned gifts," because with thoughtful planning, you create a tailored plan that benefits you, your family and LCDS. For example:

• You can make a gift that costs nothing during your lifetime through your will or a trust.
• You can give stock and realize larger tax savings.
• If you are over 70 ½-years-old, you can make a tax-free gift from your IRA.
• You can receive income for life in return for your gift through a charitable gift annuity.
• You can donate your house, continue to live there, and get a tax break all at the same time.

These are several of the many ways to make a planned gift to LCDS. With an ever-shifting tax landscape, it is best to seek the advice of a lawyer or financial advisor. Members of the development team are happy to begin the conversation and to help make you more familiar with the topic.

For more information, please reach out to Shelby Lamar, Ellen Simpson, or Corinne Topper.

We deeply appreciate gifts of every amount. Please click here to give online now.

Please find instructions on transfer of stocks linked here.