The Founders' Club honors individuals and foundations who have given generously to Chesterton Academy reaching an accumulative donation of $200,000 or more. Through a series of major gifts, Gala sponsorship, grants and estate planning, a Founders' Club member plays a pivotal role in the school’s long-term fiscal sustainability.
Transformational giving
Whether it's a one-time donation, a pledge, or a planned gift, giving at the Founders' Club Level is transformative. By reaching the $200,000 or greater threshold, a Founder has not only impacted one child, but will also help establish Chesterton Academy as a Catholic Campus that will serve generations.
As a member of The Founders' Club, you help ensure the Academy's work continues far into the future, from finding and retaining the best educators and systemically updating the Catholic Campus to expanding our endowment.
Your gift will provide a perpetual return on your investment.
A pivotal move
We invite you to consider joining The Founders' Club, a special society open to anyone who has given $200,000 or more to the Academy. Gifts can be given outright or planned.
Memberships are offered based upon one’s gift or pledged commitment to provide a particular level of support.
Once a member of the Founders' Club, a brief annual meeting with the Director of Major Gifts will make sure your investment touches as many lives and souls as possible. We feel every gift given by an individual, family or foundation should be meaningful for the giver as well as the recipient.
We're here to help
Once a donor has met with the Director of Major Gifts and has learned about how Chesterton Academy changes the lives of its students, the next step is to which particular needs would best match with the donor's goals and passions.
Whether a straight cash donation or some type of planned giving program, it is imperative that each donor takes a moment to meet with a professional advisor about the mechanism that works best for them and their family.
Membership Levels
Membership levels are cumulative. Members may join at any of these levels:
Silver Level
$200,000-$499,999, pledged, given outright, or given cumulatively
Gold Level
$500,000-$999,999, pledged, given outright, or given cumulatively
Diamond Level
$1,000,000 or more, pledged, given outright, or given cumulatively
*Company matching gifts count toward pledges
Planned Gifts
A trusted financial advisor could find the best way to grow your wealth while reducing or eliminating capital gains taxes – all while helping the Chesterton Academy.
Planned Gifts include, but are not limited to, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder unitrusts, life estates, and pooled income funds.
Bequests made in a donor’s will, revocable trust, or irrevocable trust, as well as beneficiary designations made on an account, annuity, or insurance policy will qualify at the appropriate level.
You are the difference-maker
We have a future we need to plan for, and a gift at this level will bring the school's long-term vision to life. Planning for a bold future, Founders can rest assured that their gift is put to good use.
In addition to bringing order and sustainability to the Academy, their extraordinary generosity helps the school to reach its full potential in the competitive Twin City market. Year after year, your gift will have a perpetual impact.
Chesterton Academy’s mission cannot thrive without the transformative giving of our benefactors. We thank you for your prayerful consideration.
Schedule a Meeting
Have questions or ideas? We'd love to make a connection!
To schedule a meeting with Tyler Blanski, our Director of Major Gifts (whether you'd like to meet on Zoom, get coffee, tour the school, or experience daily Mass), just schedule a time on Tyler's calendar below or email tblanski@chestertonacademy.org.
Ways to Give
Thank you for your generosity! Whether you are interested in supporting Chesterton's Direct Operations or in designating your gift, there are multiple ways to support Chesterton Academy. Please contact us if you have any questions about the options below, or if you would like to speak with one of our helpful Advancement representatives, Tyler Blanski (tblanski@chestertonacademy.org) or Christopher Olley (colley@chestertonacademy.org).
Credit Card
Please use our secure online form or call (952) 378-1779. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and PayPal.
U.S. Mail
Make your personal or business check or money order payable to Chesterton Academy, and mail it to:
attn: Institutional Advancement
Chesterton Academy
1320 Mainstreet
Hopkins, MN 55343
If you use a Chesterton Academy business-reply envelope, please affix first-class postage for faster processing by the Post Office.
Memorial Gifts
If you wish to honor the memory of a family member or friend by making a contribution to Chesterton Academy, please write us at the above address and include the name of the individual you are honoring. Please state the designation of the gift if you wish. We will contact the family to let them know a donation has been made.
Year-End Giving
Contributions are deductible in the year they are made, so be sure to make your gift by December 31.
Mailed checks must be post-marked on or before December 31. If you use a Chesterton Academy business-reply envelope, it will help to add the appropriate postage for faster processing by the Post Office.
Credit Card gifts must be charged before midnight December 31. If you mail in a credit card contribution, be sure to send it well in advance of December 31.
Online Giving
Use our online donation form as a secure and convenient way to support Chesterton.
Real Estate
We can assist you with a donation of a personal residence, farm, vacation home, commercial property, or other real estate, which can provide you with tax savings and other benefits. Contact us to learn more.
Pledges
Pledges (extending from a few months to two years) can be made in writing and mailed to:
attn: Institutional Advancement
Chesterton Academy
1320 Mainstreet
Hopkins, MN 55343
Please print clearly and in full your name, mailing address, and telephone number. State the full amount of the pledge, your payment schedule, and the amount and date of each pledge payment. You may designate your pledge to direct operations or to a specific program. We will send you an invoice.
Donor Privacy Policy
Chesterton Academy values our donors’ privacy. We will not sell a donor’s personal information to anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations.
We will only share personal information if the donor has given the Academy specific permission to do so. Any credit card information a donor provides for online donation transactions is immediately encrypted and used only for that transaction.
Pray for us. Visit us. Support us.
Thank you for supporting Chesterton Academy. We are grateful for your love and care for this school. Consistent financial support results in a more effective use of your contributions, ultimately allowing us to bring a joyful, Catholic education to more families than ever before.
All donations go directly to support and enable the academic and evangelical work of Chesterton Academy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.