Holiday Concert - 3 student dancers

Message from the Clerk of the Finance Committee

Marla Malcolm-Beck

Dear Friends,

The success of Sidwell Friends School—this year and into the future—continues to depend on the ongoing commitment and generous philanthropy of our community: alumni, current and past parents and grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends.

Together, through giving and volunteerism, you have provided the necessary resources to strengthen the School and advance our comprehensive campaign, Together We Shine.

We are happy to share that over the past year, the School’s financial position has grown stronger than ever.

  • The Together We Shine campaign has raised more than $136 million, which is 90 percent of the goal amount of $152 million.
  • Net-tuition revenue provides more than 75 percent of the School’s income, though philanthropy must continue to increase in importance to reduce our over-reliance on this source of revenue.
  • Thanks largely to the campaign, the endowment reached $73 million on June 30. Investment income partially underwrites financial aid, faculty and staff salaries and professional development, and donor-designated programs.
  • The Sidwell Friends Fund provided $4.3 million in essential resources and transformative student experiences, including nearly $700,000 through the fundraiser Founder’s Day for Scholars in support of student financial aid.

Given the current inflationary environment, the Board and School administration continue to work together to control costs. By doing so, we were able to contribute more than 90 percent of the latest tuition increase directly to improving faculty and staff salaries and benefits. Our teachers have been called to demonstrate extraordinary creativity and resilience these past years, and rewarding and retaining our remarkable faculty and staff remains a top priority.

Your generosity has a significant impact on the success of the School. Thank you for your continued support and for ensuring that our students will be able to learn with confidence and curiosity for generations to come.

With deep appreciation,

Marla Beck signature

Marla Beck P ’21, ’25
Clerk, Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees