Ways to Support

Financial support

Of course, one of the best ways to give to Gordon Parks School is to provide financial support. General donations in any amount are always welcome. you can make your donation online today, or you can contact our development director for more information.

The financial support of individuals, corporations and foundations combine to support our vision. These generous resources allow our rich educational program to do its work breaking the cycles of poverty and providing academic excellence for all our students. Every dollar or in-kind service is invested purposefully.

By law, Gordon Parks School cannot charge tuition, yet federal and state tax monies are unable to provide the enriched program and small classes necessary to meet our students’ needs. Also, taxes provide no support for the building (and associated costs). The Missouri legislature denied all charter schools any such funding. Thus, every year we must raise funds to provide up to 20 percent of our budget.

An independent firm conducts annual audits. The audits and our budget are, of course, available on request.

Here are just a few ideas for ways you can support Gordon Parks School financially:

Retirement, Birthday or Anniversary Gifts—Invite your friends to celebrate your milestone by contributing to Gordon Parks.
Estate Planning—Remember Gordon Parks when planning your estate.
Memoriam or Honor gifts—Make a donation in memory of or in honor of someone you care about.
Host a Jeans Day—Invite your co-workers to make a donation to Gordon Parks in exchange for wearing jeans to work.
Stock Transfers—Make a financial donation by transferring stock to Gordon Parks.
Employer Matching Program—Check with your Human Resources Department to see if your employer matches charitable contributions
Introduce Your Friends to Gordon Parks—Invite your friends to visit the school during a monthly tour (see below) or have our development staff speak to your organization or co-workers.

Fundraising events

We host several events per year that provide opportunities—and fun—for you to help Gordon Parks School. In September 2008, we held Night School: An Evening Under the Stars, a hugely successful event at the school featuring our own 5th Grade Ambassadors as hosts and information guides. We'd love to see you at these events, and of course bringing friends would be wonderful, too.

Volunteering

Your helping hands are always welcome, and we have a wide range of things for you to do. Take a look at our Volunteers page for more information. We are deeply grateful to all the wonderful people who donate their time, and you can be one of those people!

In-kind donation of goods and services

Gordon Parks accepts the following in-kind donations all year long:

Youth-sized uniform pants (khaki, navy or black)
Youth socks and undergarments
School and teacher supplies

We also accept a wide variety of items for our Holiday Bazaar beginning each year in October. Due to limited storage, please hold Holiday Bazaar donations until October. If you have other in-kind donations or services that you would like to donate, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 816-753-6711.

Want to learn more? Join us for a Breakfast Learning Walk!