Philanthropy at The Knox School

For the love of humankind

Education is an inherently philanthropic endeavour. It is from the love of humankind that we devote our professional lives as teachers, our personal lives as parents, towards nurturing young men and women towards adulthood. We offer our time, our knowledge, our wisdom, our empathy, our services and our money towards others’ benefit. It is an act of generosity and a gift of love.

At The Knox School, we are proud to foster a culture that values benevolence. The Falcon Philanthropy Group is an enthusiastic group of men and women who through their connection to the School seek to give of themselves for the benefit of others. I am proud to count myself as a member of the group, and together with those whom give this body life, to make a difference in the lives of others within and beyond our school community.

Altruism is a virtue and together, through our philanthropic deeds, we can provide opportunities that will enrich the lives of our community members.

Thank you for the interest you have expressed in the Falcon Philanthropy Group, I encourage you to consider what contribution you can make, and I hope that, like me, you too can find the fulfilment that comes from giving.

Allan Shaw Principal and Chief Executive

Achievement | Respect | Responsibility | Resilience | Care and Empathy

Falcon Philanthropy Group

The School, under the aegis of the Principal and Board established the Falcon Philanthropy Group (FPG) to plan and manage the establishment of an enduring culture of philanthropy within our School community.

Philanthropy is defined as the ‘love of humankind’ and so the focus of this group is to connect with and engage people who are our constituents: students, parents, staff, alumni, past staff, and friends. The FPG group’s membership is composed of:

• current parents • alumni• the Principal • past staff• a Board member • current staff

The FPG is empowered to carefully and strategically create the appropriate atmosphere within TKS community that will allow a lasting culture of philanthropy to flourish by:

• fostering the agreed Vision: ‘Giving for all’; this means giving of your voice, time and talent

• adopting best practices• being student-centric, rather than equipment or facilities focused• being supportive of the legal framework, operational and governance

structures to support a Scholarship Fund and Building Fund• crafting messages and stories to connect with and inspire people• practicing stewardship (maintaining and growing relationships) and

thanking those who have supported the philanthropic endeavours of TKS• hosting functions (reunions, celebratory events, anniversaries) that have a

meaning and relate to the School’s philanthropic Vision

The Falcon Philanthropy Group always welcomes new members who wish to contribute their voice, time and talent. Please contact us at philanthropy@knox.vic.edu.au or 8805 3862 to discover how you can be a contributor.

Community engagement and advocacy for the School

Philanthropy’s literal meaning is ‘ the love of humankind’. It involves the giving of time, information, goods, services and money to improve the wellbeing of humanity and the community.

An important element of philanthropy is advocacy or lending one’s voice. If we collectively lend our voices in support of the School, students and staff, the subsequent goodwill this generates will enhance the School’s reputation and standing.

Such active advocacy engages the School’s key constituents: parents, students, staff, alumni, past staff and friends.

Giving for all via endowed Honours

Endowing Prizes and Awards at all levels of the School from Prep – Year 12 facilitates discussion and collaborative thinking about what is needed to support the curriculum and co-curriculum in different parts of the School. A good example would be the endowment of a teaching Fellowship to support teachers’ professional development.

The stories attached to the establishment of an endowed Honour will assist the FPG promote endowments and the notion of giving as a proud tradition. Such stories will also add a lasting legacy for the School and are an important part of its next stage of maturity.

Everything the FPG does is focused on students. For example, with the support of the School, Benefit Funds (scholarships and building funds) have been established to accept donations for equipment, buildings, facilities and endowments. It organises and hosts functions to connect with its key constituents: such as reunions for alumni and events for current parents, students and staff.

Honours

Endowing Prizes and Awards is a pioneering initiative. Such endowments help establish a culture of philanthropy in the School because:

• it involves a smaller sum than the other Honours, such as a scholarship• involves the staff who need to have input into the sorts of Prizes and Awards • involves the administration team that need to manage the records (database)

and money• involves the Board because it gives final approval• involves the Comms/PR team who can help tell the story to the wider

community• Honours can be championed at the annual Presentation Night thus further

embedding the notion of families (donors) supporting the School

Additionally, endowing such awards is about the future and donors can feel proud their gift will be invested in perpetuity and the benefits for students will be lasting.

Endowed Honours are student focused and long lasting. They can be named or be anonymous and are defined as:

• Prizes • for academic achievement/progress

• Awards • for non-academic achievement/progress

• Fellowships • to support teacher professional development

• Bursaries • fee discount granted on the basis of need

• Scholarships • fee discount granted in recognition of academic excellence or general excellence or entrepreneurial spirit

• Memorial fund • established in memory of a School stalwart; this could be for a combination of any of the above or for one of the above

• Student Initiative • An annual award to support student initiatives. This is not an endowed Honour because the sum needed will be secured from donations each year.

How an Endowment Works

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Donors’Gifts

SafeInvestments Interest Students

Actuaries, wisdom and experience tell us it is reasonable to assume a return on investments in an endowment fund of 5% pa. Professional fund managers usually return CPI + 3% that equates to about 5% in the current climate.

Because of the tax status of a School Endowment Fund, the fund will not have to pay tax on its investment income.

The table below illustrates the sums recommended to endow the various Honours.

Honour Perpetual Endowment

Sum

Annual Return (5%)

Distribution Admin to School

Return to Corpus

Prize* $5,000 $250 $125 $20 $105

Award* $5,000 $250 $125 $20 $105

Student Initiative◆ $10,000

Teaching Fellowship

$50,000 $2,500 $2,250 $50 $250

Scholarship (full) ^ $400,000 $20,000 $19,000 $50 $950

Scholarship (half)^ $200,000 $10,000 $9,000 $50 $950

Bursary (full)^ $400,000 $20,000 $19,000 $50 $950

Bursary (half)^ $200,000 $10,000 $9,000 $50 $950

*There is no distinction in terms of amount made between prizes and awards at primary or secondary levels.^ Based on Year 12 fees ◆Annual Sum from donors; not an endowment

Bursary = supports a student in financial needScholarship = financial reward for excellenceTeaching Fellowship = financial support for teacher professional developmentStudent Initiative = to support student-driven innovations

1981 Robert Read chairs inaugural meeting at Bayswater Community Centre in April to discuss the establishment of an ‘independent, non-denominational co-educational college’ Robert Read chairs a second meeting in August when the name ‘Knoxfield College’ is chosen Ms Dulcie Flinn announced as the first Principal

1982 Knoxfield College opens with motto: seek wisdom and understanding134 students are enrolled in Prep to Year 7Inaugural Parents and Friends Association established

1985 Appointment of the second Principal, Mr Baxter Holly

1986 Enrolments rise to 680 students. Inter-house Competition is introduced

1987 First Year 12 class at Knoxfield CollegeInaugural Dux of the School is Amin Sadruddin who enters the University of Melbourne

1988 Knoxfield College welcomes its first international students

1989 ‘The Knoxfield Collegian’ first published

1993 Pre-prep classes commence for three and four-year-old children

1994 A designated Middle School is introduced

1995 Appointment of the third Principal, Mr Tony Conabere

1996 Knoxfield College becomes The Knox SchoolThe School’s emblem changes and includes the falcon for the first time

1998 The Knox School receives the National Assessment Award for excellence in assessment The Victorian Government ranks The Knox School amongst the ‘Top Ten Schools’

2000 The Victorian Government ranks The Knox School amongst the ‘Top Ten Schools’ againThe inaugural exchange to Japan is undertaken

2002 The Information Common opens through the generosity of donors

2004 Appointment of the fourth Principal, Ms Suzanne McChesney

2005 Students perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Deaflympics

2009 The Knox School wins the Victorian Rock Eisteddfod

2014 Appointment of the fifth Principal, Mr Allan Shaw

2018 Falcon Philanthropy Group formed

2019 The Knox School students win the Global Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge for IT and cyber security

Staff members Mr Richard Black and Ms Birgit Verhagen finalists for Teacher and Head of Department of the year in the Australian Education Awards

The Knox School Timeline

220 Burwood Highway, Wantirna SouthP: 03 8805 3800 – E: info@knox.vic.edu.au

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