Why do we fundraise at TCGIS?

Together, the collective generosity of the TCGIS community helps our public charter school achieve its mission of innovative education of the whole child through German immersion, even while operating with 30 percent less revenue than traditional public schools in Minnesota.
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Like traditional public schools, TCGIS receives state and federal funding to operate. However, charter schools do not benefit from local property taxes or levies. This results in a roughly $7,000 per pupil difference at TCGIS compared to local traditional public schools like St Paul Public Schools. 
Through the TCGIS Annual Fund, our school is able to provide unique programs and experiences to students that would not be possible without the community's support. 

Additionally, the TCGIS Annual Fund helps offset the lower per-pupil funding that charter schools receive from the state and federal governments compared to local traditional public schools. 

TCGIS has additional  expenses that other English language instruction schools do not. For instance:
  • TCGIS hosts 7-12 native-German-speaking interns each semester, providing additional instructional support to students and teachers. 
  • Our students use German-language curricular and library materials that are more expensive to purchase than traditional, English materials. 
  • TCGIS provides professional development for teachers specifically around language-immersion education. 
  • Recruiting German teachers means additional costs for work visas
For all of these reasons, TCGIS’ annual fundraising goal of $85,000 is a line item in the school’s annual budget. 

How can you help?

Make a one time or recurring donation to the annual fund
  • Utilize your employer’s matching funds programs 
  • Participate in our two major fundraising events annually, one in the fall and one in the spring. 

​Families are invited to participate in fundraising efforts by two groups: the TCGIS School Board and the TCGIS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).  

Click here to make a one-time or recurring donation online.

There are many ways to give! ​

Green rectangle logo with the caption Infinite Campus, with Parent Portal with orange background
​The TCGIS online giving form allows donors to make one-time or recurring gifts with a credit card. 

Gifts made by ACH or eCheck from a savings or checking account can be made through the Infinite Campus School Store.

Click on the "Fundraising" option.
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Drop off or mail a check to:
TCGIS
1031 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55103
Pursue an Employer Match! 
TCGIS family members and supporters take advantage of employer-matching and payroll deduction programs. Here are some local corporations and organizations that participate but we encourage you to inquire with your employer as well:
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3M
Allina Health System
Best Buy
Boston Scientific
Cargill
Delta Airlines
​Ecolab
Estee Lauder
General Mills
Land O' Lakes
Medtronic
ServiceNow
Target Corp.
Thomson Reuters
Thrivent
UnitedHealth Group
University of Minnesota
Wells Fargo
Logo with the caption Give MN.org with the letters in navy and green. Subtitle Ignite Generosity, grow giving

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​Make a gift through GiveMN's giving platform (credit card) during Minnesota's Giving Holiday - Give to the Max!
TCGIS School Board Fundraising

​Led by the TCGIS School Board's Fundraising Committee, these fundraising initiatives support our school’s Annual Fund, which is part of our school’s comprehensive budget. It supports: 
  • school operations and capital improvements
  • our intern program and international hiring  
  • curriculum enhancement and intercultural engagement opportunities 
  • professional development and diversity initiatives for staff

The Fall Campaign—held in conjunction with Give to the Max Day—and Spring Campaign are the primary ways the TCGIS Annual Fund is supported. Recurring individual donations, corporate match donations and payroll contributions are also convenient and effective ways to support the Annual Fund.
TCGIS PTO Fundraising

Led by families and friends of TCGIS, the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is focused on enriching our community and supporting teachers and staff. Things that the PTO supports for teachers and staff include:
  • funding professional training/conferences 
  • snacks, meals and team-building opportunities for teachers and staff 
  • classroom-based projects and field trips 
  • community-building events for the whole school ​
The PTO raises funds primarily through sales (plants/strudel/soup, etc.) and events (Oktoberfest 5K, the Fall Auction and Great Gatherings, Maskenball, etc.). ​