Why your gift is important
Jowonio School is committed to providing high-quality, inclusive education, but our funding structure represents significant challenges that require strategic investment. We rely a lot on the generosity of community members to bridge the gap.
Jowonio’s primary revenues come from 3 sources:
- The New York State Education Department (NYSED) provides tuition for the services we provide to students who qualify for special education services. (~80% of budget)
- The Syracuse City School District (SCSD) Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) pays tuition for 3- and 4-year-olds residing in the district, ensuring access. (~9% of budget)
- For students who do not reside in the SCSD, parents pay tuition on a sliding scale based on family income. (~9% of budget)
The funding gap
While NYSED funds a majority of Jowonio’s operating budget, the reimbursement process lags by 2 years, requiring the school to front all costs associated with program growth, staff expansion, salary increases, and new capital expenditures, with no guarantee of reimbursement.
The call to action
To bridge this gap and drive sustainable growth, Jowonio relies on philanthropic partnerships, grant funding, and donor support. Investment in Jowonio means ensuring equitable access to transformative early education, strengthening staff recruitment and retention, and expanding on specialized programs to meet the needs of every student
Ways to support Jowonio
There are lots of ways to support Jowonio, like:
- An unrestricted donation, which will be applied to the area of greatest need,
- A donation to one of our established, named restricted funds, or scholarships (see below for more information about funds),
- Identifying Jowonio as a receipient of your contributions to United Way or the New York State Employees’ Federated Appeal through your employer,
- A matched contribution through your employer, which increases the impact of every dollar you donate, and
- Creating a new named fund or scholarship, making a legacy gift or bequest, or any other special project. Please reach out to us at grow@jowonio.org to discuss your wishes.
- Making an in-kind donation of materials, time, or skills
Funds
Jowonio School Agency Fund: an Agency Fund is similar to an endowment, established to ensure the organization has a permanent source of income to meet future needs. The Jowonio School Agency Fund is managed by the CNY Community Foundation. Donations to the Jowonio School Agency Fund are made payable to the CNY Community Foundation with “Jowonio School Agency Fund” in the memo line. Central New York Community Foundation, 431 East Fayette Street, Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13202
HEROs Fund: Launched by the Jowonio School Board of Directors, this fund addresses recruitment and retention of our highly skilled and talented staff through competitive compensation initiatives.
Albert F. & Susan Antonini Fund: To benefit current low-income or disabled students in need for the purchase of medical equipment.
Becca’s Dragonfly Fund: In memory of Jowonio alum Becca Priest Kiritsis, this fund provides assistance to families when a child has a disability.
Hank Klueber Adaptive Communication Fund: The fund will be used to provide access to alternative communication approaches for children with special needs. Funds will be used to support access to communication in school, at home, and in the community.
Marc Wilett-Zan Currin Fund: In memory of Jowonio alum Marc Wilett and his friend and teacher, Zan Currin, to support high-qualityhigh quality services for students with physical needs.
Scholarships
Brooks Family Scholarship: In honor of the Brooks Family, this scholarship is awarded annually to a family who needs tuition assistance and whose child needs Jowonio services.
Ellen Barnes Scholarship: In honor of Jowonio’s first families and named for founding Director Ellen Barnes, this fund was established to provide Jowonio School with financial assistance for special projects.
Jeanine M. Stables Fund: In honor of former Jowonio teacher Jeanine M. Stables, this scholarship supports children with special education needs.
Michele Torrisi Scholarship Fund: In memory of beloved Jowonio teacher Michele Torrisi, this fund provides scholarships to children who might not otherwise be able to attend the school.
In-Kind Donations
In addition to monetary donations, we welcome donations of goods and services, including your time and talents.
The Jowonio School Board is comprised of volunteers with a strong interest in the school, who support the school’s mission. We welcome participation in specific committees (Board Development, Building, Finance, Fund Development, Personnel, Program, and Technology).
In addition to Board membership, we also appreciate individuals who support a variety of classroom and school-wide community events. These include:
- Becoming a room parent and assisting with organizing classroom special events,
- Substituting in Jowonio classrooms when a staff member is out,
- Providing support with marketing and communications to the Jowonio community,
- Providing support with gardening and grounds maintenance,
- Assisting with organizing key fundraising events, such as our annual spring Celebrate Jowonio event,
- Assisting with events to support and recognize staff, such as the annual Staff Appreciation Luncheon and the Sunshine Committee, and
- If you have other skills, talents, or time you would like to offer, please reach out to us.