The Lakeside Fund is a collective endeavor that fuels our mission. It’s how our entire community comes together each year to invest in the people, programs, and experiences that define Lakeside. Tuition alone does not cover the true cost of educating each student, so every Lakeside Fund gift represents both a contribution of spirit, and a tangible way of making every day extraordinary for our students and teachers.

Yes! Every gift, no matter the size, sends a powerful message: this matters. Participation signifies a deep level of community commitment to Lakeside’s mission and helps strengthen our culture of philanthropy. When you give, you inspire others to do the same, multiplying the impact of every act of generosity.

We use “giving through” instead of “giving to” because your gift moves through the school; not to sustain an institution, but to create impact. That might mean opening doors through financial aid, supporting an inspired teacher, or making sure students have access to meaningful learning experiences. Giving through Lakeside is an action that generates outcomes.

Lakeside Fund gifts are flexible and ready for immediate use, allowing the school to respond to what students and teachers need right now. If you would like to designate your gift to an area that reflects your personal values, you have the option to direct it towards financial aid, educational excellence, arts, athletics, or faculty excellence. Please note that gifts are unable to be directed to specific teams or clubs.

We recognize that tuition is an investment, and one that already reflects your commitment to your child’s education. Tuition alone doesn’t cover the full cost of a transformative Lakeside education. Philanthropy is an essential piece – it sustains the people, programs, and opportunities that allow Lakeside to fully deliver its mission. Making a gift is also a tangible vote of confidence in our educators, our students, and the values that define this community.

Financial aid is central to Lakeside’s mission and our commitment to broadening access to an outstanding education. It ensures that approximately one-third of our students can experience the full Lakeside program, regardless of their ability to pay tuition. Support for financial aid removes barriers, sustains a socioeconomically diverse community, and strengthens the learning experience for every student.

Lakeside’s Board of Trustees is responsible for managing the endowment. The endowment provides funds for professional development, financial aid, and more. To ensure the endowment’s resources are available for generations of students to come, the Board follows the best practice by spending 4-5% of the endowment each year. Additionally, Lakeside’s endowment funds are restricted, meaning they can only be used for specific purposes. In contrast, the Lakeside Fund is unrestricted, meaning the school can choose to spend the funds raised in the Lakeside Fund to address immediate needs, invest in innovation, and seize opportunities as they arise.

You can click here to make a gift via credit card, bank account, DAF, or Venmo. If you would like to make a gift of stock, click here. Gifts to the Lakeside Fund are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

Yes! You have the option of making a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual recurring gift. Check the “recurring donation” box on the giving form and then select the frequency you’d like your gift to recur.

Your time and energy are deeply appreciated — and often a family’s most visible form of giving. If and when you feel inspired to support financially, we invite you to view it as another way of expressing care and belief in Lakeside. Participation in all forms is what builds a strong, connected community.

Use your own voice and story. Share what motivates you. Some people give because they benefited from financial aid. Others give to support amazing teachers. Some give to model generosity for their children. The common thread? We care about these students and this community, and we want to see them thrive. 

You do. Every day. That said, many employees choose to give through Lakeside as a way to further support students and show solidarity with the values we share. It’s never expected. It’s an invitation — to be part of a collective message that says: we care.