What is the Annual Fund?

• Gifts to the Annual Fund are critical to the Academy's annual operating budget. 

• It is the money we spend first during the current fiscal year to ensure every student has the best educational experience possible. 

• We ask every parent, alumni, staff, community member, volunteer, and faculty member to contribute to the Annual Fund and help propel the Academy from an excellent school to an exceptional school.

What does the Annual Fund support?

• Hire, retain, and professionally develop skilled faculty and staff

• Enhance and maintain campus infrastructure (buildings, sports fields, etc...)

• Expand technology and innovation, including updated computers and classroom software.

• Support the athletics, arts, and music programs (uniforms, equipment, etc...)

• Provide financial assistance to students whose families demonstrate need and would otherwise not be able to attend HA, allowing for an increasingly diverse population.

Can I restrict my gift to a certain program or area of student life?

• The Annual Fund supports the school’s current annual operating budget, so unrestricted gifts are extremely important to the success of a balanced budget. 

• When you give an unrestricted gift, you give where it is most needed. Unrestricted donations help in all aspects of student life, including keeping the student-faculty ratio 8 to 1, enhancing our sports and fine arts programs, improving campus technologies, and hiring/retaining the best teachers.

Why does Houghton Academy ask for contributions instead of simply increasing tuition? 

• Augmenting tuition through charitable gifts helps keep tuition competitive and provides many important programs and improvements essential to our mission. 

• For many, it is also a way to receive a deduction on income tax to the extent allowed by law.

How can I contribute, and is it tax-deductible?

• Gifts by check are the most common and efficient way to donate. Mail to: Houghton Academy Annual Fund, 9790 Thayer Street, Houghton, NY 14744

• Gifts of appreciated securities have beneficial tax implications. Please contact the Business Office at 585-567-8115 for more information. 

• Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit cards are accepted for gifts, and the Academy website can process secure transactions for these donations. (Please be aware that by using a credit card to make your donation, the Academy incurs a fee of 2.75% - 3.00%.) 

• Gifts can be pledged depending on the timeframe and designation. 

• All Annual Fund gifts to Houghton Academy are tax-deductible based on the school's 501(c)(3) charitable status.