Giving

Your gift makes it possible for us to deliver on our mission to develop curious, self-confident, and independent lifelong learners. Like many other independent schools, Riverbend relies on fundraising to bridge the difference between our tuition revenue and our operating costs. Active and ongoing community participation in the Annual Fund is vital to our operations budget, demonstrates the overall fiscal health of the school, and helps ensure our longevity for future generations of Montessori learners.

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Teacher reading to students

Why we give is simple. The passion and nurturing that the entire Riverbend community gives not just to our own children, but to all learners everyday is a gift that can never be matched. This is a community that deeply cares about developing the next generation and that is why we are proud to support Riverbend.

– Riverbend Parent

Ways to Give

Making your gift online is one of the quickest and most secure ways to support Riverbend. Our online giving form has Apple Pay and Google Pay capabilities, meaning you can make your gift in fewer clicks. Consider creating your own personal donor login to print tax summaries and donation receipts at your convenience. Look for the “Have a donor account? Sign in” in the upper right corner of the form to create your account.

A simple and straightforward way to make an impact! Make your check out to Riverbend School and send it to Director of Advancement, 39 Eliot Street, Natick MA 01760 or make your gift securely online. Consider covering bank fees to make your gift go further. 

A quick and easy way to make a difference for Riverbend! Go to your personal Venmo account and search for @Riverbend_School. Click on the “Pay” button. Type in the dollar amount and the description of what your donation is for (e.g. Annual Fund, Capital Campaign, etc.). Click on the “Pay” button a second time. Confirm your payment by clicking on “Pay” a third time.by clicking on “Pay” a third time.

Where commitment meets convenience, this option makes your ongoing, monthly support easy and more affordable. Be sure to click the “Recurring” box on our online donation form and select your giving frequency from the drop down menu. 

Increase your impact! Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees, retirees, and/or spouses to contribute to charitable organizations. Most companies who offer these programs match dollar for dollar, and many will even double or triple the impact of your contribution. To get started, ask your employer if they support this initiative. 

Making a gift of your appreciated assets may allow you to give more — about 20% more! — than if you sold the stock and made a cash donation. This is because donating stock helps you avoid a capital gains tax, which can be as high as 20% on long-term holdings (stocks held for longer than one year) depending on your marital status and income. Contact Steve Duffy for more information.

Donor Advised Funds are a special type of investment account used exclusively for philanthropic giving. They are administered by a local community foundation or national sponsor like Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard and can be funded with cash or gifts of stock. Once your DAF is funded, you can let your investment grow or make a charitable gift right away. Either way, you receive an immediate tax benefit for your contribution. 

Giving from your IRA is a tax-smart way to ensure Riverbend can best serve students and families. The IRA Charitable Rollover allows donors to make “qualified charitable contributions” directly from a retirement plan. Gifts up to $100,000 are excluded from federal income. For couples filing a joint tax return, each spouse can exclude up to $100,000, for a maximum of $200,000 each year. Donors interested in making a gift through their IRA are encouraged to consult with their financial advisor or retirement plan administrator.

Naming Riverbend in your will is one of the simplest ways to leave a legacy. Not payable until death, a bequest will not affect assets or cash flow during your lifetime. Other options for planned giving include tax-deferred accounts and life insurance gifts. Contact Steve Duffy for more information or to set up a planned gift.

2025-2026 Annual Fund

100%

Faculty & Staff Giving

100%

Board of Trustees Giving

79%

Riverbend Family Giving

2024-2025 Annual Report

2023-2024 Annual Report

2022-2023 Annual Report

The Annual Fund

The Annual Fund is the main source of unrestricted support for our school, bridging the gap between tuition and the actual cost of a Riverbend education. Your participation is a vote of confidence in Riverbend and it keeps our programming strong by supporting the school’s day-to-day expenses, including professional development, technology, creative arts and curriculum development, and financial aid. Because the Annual Fund supports the current operating budget, your gift today has an immediate impact tomorrow as we put your dollars to use supporting students, faculty, and staff.

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