Common Questions
The unique nature of Lipscomb Academy combines academic excellence with an unwavering emphasis on Christian spiritual formation and a commitment to providing a well-rounded educational experience for our students.
The partnership of administrators, faculty, staff, alumni and families has provided the means to our success as an educational institution for more than a century. Our goal is to continue to provide the best Christ-centered education available and to equip our students for life beyond the classroom.
Independent Christian schools operate differently from public schools in several ways. The following information will explain some of the inherent differences and answer some commonly asked questions. It will also address the responsibilities our Lipscomb Academy parents have in providing resources to ensure the best possible programs and facilities for our students today and to ensure that future generations of students will benefit from a Lipscomb education.
Lipscomb University is chartered as a non-profit corporation 501(C)(3). No one person or group of people owns the school. The Board of Trustees, none of whom are employed by Lipscomb University, establishes broad general policies under which the school operates.
Because the school is a part of Lipscomb University, the Lipscomb University Board of Trustees defines the nature of the school and seeks to assure its well being. The Lipscomb Academy Board Committee is directly involved in financial and operational decisions and is committed to the success of the campus school. The Board hires the President, who in turn appoints the Head of School for Lipscomb Academy. The Head of School is responsible for overseeing the operation of Lipscomb Academy and is a member of the President’s Senior Leadership Team.
We endorse and adopt the “Donor Bill of Rights” which was created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Giving Institute: Leading Consultants to Nonprofits.
Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the nonprofit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
- To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
- To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
- To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
- To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
- To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.
- To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
- To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
- To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.
- To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
- To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.
The school receives money from these sources: tuition and other fees, contributions from parents, alumni, faculty and staff, grandparents, friends, foundations and auxiliary sources such as parent organizations.
Tuition does not fully cover the expenses incurred by the school each year. As with most private schools, contributions are needed to meet our annual expenses, and to improve and add programs and facilities for our students. The Lipscomb Academy Annual Fund has been established to provide resources for academic and athletics programs, and facilities improvements throughout our Lower and Upper Schools.
Yes. Throughout the history of Lipscomb Academy, generous supporters have made annual gifts as well as gifts for comprehensive facilities improvement programs. This level of commitment is essential to meet our financial obligations, enhance and expand our programs and facilities and plan for future capital campaigns.
Ours is not a school built by a few wealthy families, but by many generous families who have given throughout the years. Your child is reaping the benefits today of donors whose children have long since graduated from Lipscomb Academy. These families sacrificed to ensure the successful future of Lipscomb Academy. Today’s families must continue and build upon this heritage of commitment.
Gifts of cash, appreciated stocks, and gifts in- kind can be made to Lipscomb Academy. Long-term contributions are made by naming the school as a beneficiary of a will, a trust, or a life insurance policy.
Yes. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, contributions to Lipscomb Academy are acknowledged in writing and are deductible to the full extent of the law.
Casey Farris, Associate Head of School for Development, will be happy to talk with you regarding giving to Lipscomb Academy. He can be reached at (615) 966-5051 or casey.farris [at] lipscomb.edu (casey[dot]farris[at]lipscomb[dot]edu).