The Latest EMS News · 17 November 2023

Advancement 2023–2024

SOTS Advancement page photo of Spring Benefit 2023

The main goal of the advancement office is to help build a strong and engaged community while fundraising to meet the needs of the school. Through increased visibility, engagement, and collaboration, the team is committed to building a culture of philanthropy to support so many exciting endeavors at EMS.

Why do we have an annual fund? Why should our community donate?

The Apple Tree Fund is EMS’ annual fund. This fund helps “fill the gap” between tuition and the true cost of an EMS education. This gap is about $5,500 per student.

The Apple Tree Fund launched in October.

Trustee Participation IS at 100%.

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FACULTY AND STAFF PARTICIPATION IS AT 96%.

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The Average gift from current families is $1,730.

LAST SCHOOL YEAR — 2022-2023 ATF Stats:

  • Current parent participation increased by 11%, compared to our previous fiscal year.
  • Total giving to the Apple Tree Fund increased by 10%.
  • Goal: $905,000 vs Actual: $1,087,992.
  • Our Spring Benefit was the highest-grossing in-person event to date. Nearly 200 guests attended, helping us raise more than $250,000.

Current SCHOOL YEAR — 2023-2024 ATF Stats:

  • To date, we’ve raised $552,773 for the Apple Tree Fund. This includes $200,000 from the Elisabeth Reeve Morrow Morgan Foundation (ERMMF). We are currently at 59% of our goal of $940,000.
  • Current parent participation: 47% (+14%) compared to this time last year.
  • Trustee giving: 100% participation.
  • Faculty and staff giving: 88% participation.

Giving tuesday: Giving STATS from Nov. 20-28

Thank you to everyone who has made a gift so far to the Apple Tree Fund and for supporting the Giving Tuesday Challenge! EMS reached its goal of 75 donations for Giving Tuesday unlocking $50,000 from three EMS families!

  • $130,317 raised as of Nov. 28, 2023 (this includes the $50,000 challenge gift).
  • 126 supporters

For those of you who have not had a chance to make a gift, there is still time! The Apple Tree Fund runs until June 30. Check out the grade-wide leaderboard and make a gift!

Why is participation important?

Participation is important because it illustrates that the community is aligned with the mission and vision of the school. When everyone in the community gives, no matter what the amount, it shows their investment in the future of the school. Ultimately, participation helps the advancement team to reach its fundraising goals.

The goal for this year is 100% current parent participation. Any gift amount can and will make a difference! Each and every student benefits from gifts to the Apple Tree Fund.

Elisabeth Reeve Morrow Morgan Foundation

The Elisabeth Reeve Morrow Morgan Foundation at EMS

The Elisabeth Reeve Morrow Morgan Foundation has a longstanding relationship with The Elisabeth Morrow School going back to its inception in November 1935. The foundation’s only purpose since its incorporation, by way of annual gifts, has been to fund special projects as proposed by The Elisabeth Morrow School, for faculty support in addition to funding the school’s scholarship and endowment projects. This year, the foundation granted a total of $200,000 to our school.

Upcoming Events

Dec. 21

Grandparents Brunch and Lunch Reception

10:30 a.m. (immediately following the Little School Winter Arts dress rehearsal) and 12:30 p.m. (preceding the Morrow House Winter Arts dress rehearsal)


Dec. 2, 12–3 p.m.

Class of 1973 50th Reunion


Jan. 25, 2024, 6–8 p.m.

Thank You Reception for all Apple Tree Fund donors


April 18, 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Head’s Council Dinner Reception


April 26

Grandparents & Special Friends Day


May 1

Faculty-Staff-Trustee Reception


May 16, 6–10 p.m.

Spring Benefit

Recent Events

HEAD OF SCHOOL BREAKFAST WITH FAMILIES

We welcomed more than 40 new EMS families during a series of breakfasts.

Morrow Society Reception

Leadership giving through the Morrow Society and the Head’s Council plays an especially important role in fulfilling the vision of our school and helps ensure continued growth and excellence. The Elisabeth Morrow School deeply appreciates the support of its community of parents, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, and friends. Morrow Society donors were celebrated for their generosity during a beautiful reception at the home of Jen and Scott Ostfeld P: ’21, ’22, ’25.

ALUMNI COCKTAIL PARTY

Alumni, along with current EMS faculty and staff, reconnected at Axia.

Division-wide Cocktail Receptions

These three events featured a professional quizmaster who led parents through an exciting competition of EMS trivia.

EMS cocktail receptions with trivia

Division-wide Cocktail Receptions

These three events featured a professional quizmaster who led parents through an exciting competition of EMS trivia.

Annual Trustee Reunion

Nearly two dozen former EMS trustees returned to campus to reconnect and learn about exciting updates from Head of School Marek Beck, Ph.D.

EMS Trustee Reunion

Learn more about our vision and goals for the future of EMS

Important 2023–2024 State of the School topics include updates from Chilton House, Little School, and Morrow House, as well as Auxiliary Programs, Communications and Marketing, Enrollment, Facilities and Operations, Finances, and Community Life, Equity, and Belonging.

EMS prepares students for an impressive range of top-tier secondary schools.

Accustomed to a challenging academic environment, EMS students welcome the demands of competitive secondary schools and are often placed in advanced sections where they perform very well. See where our students have been accepted.

YOUR CHILD WOULD THRIVE AT EMS. SCHEDULE A TIME TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT JOINING OUR COMMUNITY.

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