THE FIVE MAJOR INITIATIVES OF THE BRIGHT BOLD NEXT CAMPAIGN:
Financial Aid Endowment – Ensure that a BB&N education is accessible to all qualified students, regardless of financial background.
The BB&N Fund – Continue to be responsive to the most pressing needs of our community while supporting all areas of the school’s operating budget.
Innovation – Empower students and faculty to move from idea to impact by designing and implementing creative solutions to real-world challenges.
Lower School Renovation – Create a campus that supports the pedagogy of a BB&N education for our youngest students.
Grove Street Athletic Campus – Elevate the student athletic experience to give students the best opportunities to pursue their goals, and bring the community together.
A Historic Milestone for BB&N
To the BB&N Community,
In 2020, when we first assessed the potential for a campaign, the vision felt as daunting as it was exciting. Today, that vision becomes our reality. We are proud to announce Bright Bold Next, a $100 million comprehensive campaign—the most ambitious fundraising effort in our school’s history
What makes this moment truly extraordinary is that, together, we have already raised $88.7 million. This milestone is a testament to the extraordinary generosity of our community and a collective belief in the strength of our vision to enhance the student experience. We have activated giving at every level—a level of communitywide participation we should all hold with immense pride.
Inside, you will find a detailed look at our campaign initiatives and the impact that early support has already made across our core pillars. Closing this final chapter will require the same coordination and community that brought us this far. This phase belongs to all of us.
Bright Bold Next has always been about one thing: enhancing the student experience. We have already done something remarkable together. Now, with clarity and collective purpose, let’s finish it.
With gratitude and excitement,
Leslie
Riedel P’15, ’18, ’26, ’28
Campaign Co-Chair Chief Advancement Officer
Financial Aid Initiative
GOAL: To significantly increase our financial aid endowment in order to move us closer toward a future where finances are no longer an obstacle for students to attend BB&N.
BB&N is dedicated to providing an education rooted in honor, scholarship, and kindness. To this end, we seek students whose interests, histories, and talents enrich our community in every way.
Our Financial Aid Initiative is critical to attracting and retaining the strongest and most well rounded students in order to ensure that BB&N is accessible and affordable to families from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.
BB&N’s financial aid program builds a global community of learners reflective of the world our students will enter, and ensures that financial constraints do not hinder a student’s potential and experience.
STRATEGIC GOALS OF FINANCIAL AID:
Promote a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Community by admitting a student population that is socioeconomically, racially, and ethnically diverse. We are proud that more than 50 percent of students currently identify as students of color.
Elevate Our Programs by attracting students with a range of talents to enrich our academic, arts, and athletic programs.
Empower Our Educators by enabling qualified children of our faculty and staff to join their parents as part of the BB&N community.
“If we are dedicated to building an intellectual environment that thrives with regard to curiosity, inquiry, and critical thinking, it is our duty to make sure we are sharing a variety of perspectives in our classrooms. A willingness to see the world from eyes and experiences different from our own is essential to this work.”
— Michael Chapman, Upper School Dean of Teaching and Learning | Upper School Science
THE FINANCIAL AID INITIATIVE
UNDERSCORES BB&N’S COMMITMENT TO:
Inspire Community: Because Financial Aid promotes a heterogeneous and global schoolwide community, it enriches the educational experience of all students by deepening understanding, broadening perspectives, and sparking bold ideas.
Live our Values: Our commitment to financial aid across a broad socioeconomic spectrum allows for a plurality of lived experiences which inherently cultivate inquiry, integrity, belonging, and kindness— values that are foundational to BB&N’s ethos.
Reflect our Region: Geographically located within a nexus of culture and innovation, we wholeheartedly believe our campus should mirror and reflect the vibrant diversity of our surroundings.
FINANCIAL AID
SNAPSHOT 2025-2026: $12.5 million for tuition grants
Percent of students supported, by campus
ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES COVERED BY FINANCIAL AID:
In addition to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for tuition grants, our financial aid budget supports non-tuition expenses so that all students have access to the full BB&N experience. These expenses include:
Learning support (tutoring, test preparation)
Transportation (BB&N bus, MBTA passes)
International and athletic trips
Afterschool programs
Technology (laptops, Chromebooks)
260 grants awarded
25% of BB&N students supported
“Financial aid makes the fabric of our community more robust and more interesting. We’re all better off because
who are capable and deserving have the
— Leslie Riedel, P’15, ’18, ’26, ’28, Trustee
The BB&N Fund
GOAL: To grow The BB&N Fund—the sustaining force behind our school—which directly enriches student learning, supports exceptional faculty and staff, and strengthens the everyday BB&N experience.
A strong BB&N Fund ensures that every facet of our school thrives. It is a fundamental pillar of the Bright Bold Next Campaign because it supports everything from faculty and staff salaries, benefits, and professional development; to financial aid, classroom resources, arts, athletics, and improvements to our campuses.
A strong BB&N Fund strengthens every part of the BB&N experience—our diverse, compassionate, and engaged community, the academic excellence of our programs, and our truly exceptional faculty who are at the core of what takes place on each campus every day.
The BB&N Fund stands as a testament to our institutional strength and the commitment of our community. A healthy Fund tells our community—and the wider world—that BB&N is flourishing.
“BB&N gives students opportunities, mentorship, and experiences that shape who they are, and supporting the school is a way to help ensure those opportunities continue for the next generation. For me, it’s less about the size of the gift and more about being part of a collective effort to invest in the community.”
— Alexa Horwitz ’12
“I give to BB&N every year because I know that my gift makes it possible for others like me to open their worlds in classrooms, on playing fields, on stage, and in studios and labs.”
— Brendan Mernin ’83
IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT:
Strengthening our Institution: A vibrant BB&N Fund reflects our thriving status and gives confidence to our community of our ongoing success.
Driving Innovation: A robust Fund allows us to remain nimble, seizing new opportunities and advancing our mission.
Powering our Campaign: Support for The BB&N Fund is pivotal to our Bright Bold Next Campaign goal, demonstrating our collective dedication to BB&N’s present and future.
“ Tuition alone does not cover the cost of operating a school like this. There is always a gap between operating expenses and what tuition brings in, and The BB&N Fund helps bridge that gap.”
— Shane Kovacs P’26, ’28, ’31
$23.5 MILLION GOAL
BB&N FUND
Innovation Initiative
GOAL: To support both student and faculty creativity by bringing bold ideas alive that expand future-focused learning opportunities, through a permanent Innovation Endowment that accelerates innovation initiatives.
At BB&N, innovation is an ongoing commitment to improving how we teach, learn, and grow together. Our approach to innovation is shaped each year by student curiosity, faculty passion, and the real-world challenges facing our community.
A commitment to innovation has been essential to BB&N’s storied past and now serves as a guiding framework for its future. Driving the Innovation Initiative of the Bright Bold Next Campaign are the goals of ensuring that BB&N remains on the vanguard of student excellence.
“ We’ve reached an inflection point. What work looks like, how businesses operate, how adults arrange their lives—all of that is in flux. Our job as educators is to prepare students for what’s ahead. That requires a process of continuous, deliberate innovation.”
— Dr. Jed Lippard, Chief Learning Officer
“Before I came to BB&N I worked in science education, so I’ve known about the Miniboat project for at least ten years. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do here because it aligns perfectly with the fifth-grade science immigration/ migration curriculum (how and why things move, including people), so it felt like a natural fit.”
— Lauren Rader, Lower School Science
We seek to build new learning experiences for students and enhance professional growth for faculty by empowering them to move from idea to impact. Faculty and students have support and flexibility to design and implement creative solutions to realworld opportunities and challenges they face in the classroom and beyond.
CURRENT INNOVATION PROGRAMS
Innovation Grants: Provide funding and support for educators and students to develop and implement novel projects, programs, and curricula within their classrooms and across the community.
Educator Preparation Programs: Attract, nurture, and retain forward-thinking educators through three pipeline opportunities:
Lesley University Teacher Residency Program
The University of Pennsylvania Independent School Teaching Residency
BB&N Education Fellows Program (Knight Corps)
The Class of 2023 Visiting Innovator Program: Brings top experts and thought leaders to BB&N to share cutting-edge ideas, technologies, and practices.
Annual Teaching and Learning Conferences:
Hosted by BB&N, educators gather to share ideas, explore new trends in education, and collaborate on approaches to teach and learn.
Design-Driven Learning Environments: We are shaping spaces, such as a new Upper School robotics studio and an enhanced Lower School makerspace, that prioritize design thinking, iteration, and collaboration, leveraging technology to promote deeper learning.
“I enjoyed how the podcasting class provided an opportunity to creatively express ideas and thoughts through a different medium. By learning the craft behind a good podcast as well as the technical aspects, I think we all walked away with very useful skills.”
— Diya Gandhi ’27
Above: Rendering of the new Upper School robotics studio
Top left: Innovation Grant 2026, Upper School African Drumming class Center left: Innovation Grant 2025, Grade 5 Miniboat Project
Lower School Renovation Project
GOAL: Through a significant renovation of our Lower School campus, we seek to align our learning spaces with our pedagogical approach to enhance every aspect of the educational experience for our youngest learners.
KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE LOWER SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECT:
Expanded and Renovated Classrooms: Increasing classroom size to provide students with more room to learn.
Integrating Interdisciplinary Spaces: Creating new, co-located, dedicated STEM, Art, and Science spaces to inspire the next generation of creators and inventors.
Connected Learning Hubs: Integrating collaboration zones for all grades that act as seamless extensions of the classroom, providing direct access to the library resources.
Full-Service Dining: Establishing a professional kitchen and cafeteria capable of preparing and serving 600+ fresh meals daily for Lower and Middle School students.
Inclusive Design: Ensuring full accessibility throughout the Lower School campus.
Community Gathering Spaces: Improving community gathering spaces for student performances, assemblies, and school-wide events.
Outdoor Spaces: Reimagining our outdoor environment for project-based learning and age appropriate play spaces.
“A renovated campus gives us the space and freedom to do so much more. We’ll have a campus that’s worthy of our teachers and students—that supports our curriculum, nurtures our sense of community, and inspires our most adventurous work.”
— Anthony Reppucci P’25, ’31, Lower School Director
“As teachers, we want the flexibility to work with students in many different ways. More space would allow us to break into small groups, collaborate, and teach in ways that truly support how students learn best.”
— Amena Zavery, Grade 3 Teacher
““ We value so many things about the education our children are receiving at BB&N’s Lower School. One aspect that stands out is the emphasis on educating the whole person — children who are taught to care, have empathy, and develop curiosity about their world. An investment in our Lower School supports this uniquely positive community and learning environment for all children.”
— Tom and Kate Lakin P’36, ’38
LOWER SCHOOL RENOVATION
$44 MILLION GOAL
New Buckingham Street entrance
View from turf field looking into new cafeteria
Cafeteria interior
Art, Science, and Makerspace Classrooms in new building
“ We are so incredibly fortunate to have a home field as nice as Grove Street. The atmosphere of being there is amazing, including the fans, the energy, and the field itself. I have made countless unforgettable memories on Grove Street, and I can’t wait to make more!”
—
Nora MacCutcheon ’27
Grove Street Athletic Campus
GOAL: To elevate students’ athletic experiences with new fields for practices and games, enhance student well-being with more consistent scheduling, and deepen our impact as community stewards through our partnership with the City of Watertown.
Opened in Fall 2023, the Grove Street campus includes two new athletic fields for football, soccer, lacrosse, and softball practices and games, viewing stands, and parking spaces for students during the school day. Through a public-private partnership with the City of Watertown, Grove Street also provides access to adjacent fields at Watertown’s Filippello Park. During the school year, BB&N teams have access to the full 20-acre campus every afternoon until 6 p.m. so that all Middle and Upper School teams can practice during after-school hours at either the Grove
Street or Gerry’s Landing campuses. In the evenings, weekends, and summer, Watertown has full use of the property including BB&N’s Grove Street fields.
THE IMPACT ON OUR ATHLETIC PROGRAM AND THE BB&N COMMUNITY:
Improved Daily Schedules: The new fields provide consistent practice times, offering our athletes greater control over their schedules and alleviating past limitations caused by restricted space.
Promoting Wellness: Ample space for play and practice ensures students come to class and practice energized and ready to perform, promoting overall wellness.
Building Community: The Grove Street campus serves as a gathering place for community events including Homecoming, Friday Night Lights, and other alumni and community gatherings, while reinforcing BB&N’s partnership with the Watertown community and beyond.
“Grove Street has already made such a significant impact on our student-athletes and community, providing BB&N with the ability to utilize the ideal practice time slots on incredible surfaces for more teams, even in the rain. We strive to give our teams the best opportunities to go after their goals and the Grove Street fields have helped us in this endeavor.”
— Jaye Locke P’35, ’38, Director of Athletics
BRIGHT BOLD NEXT TABLE OF GIFTS
As of April 23, 2026
The table below reflects the collective generosity of our community and the progress we are making together. Every gift—of any size—brings us closer to realizing our most ambitious campaign to date. Thank you for being part of what’s possible.
We are deeply grateful to the current and past parents, alumni, and grandparents listed below who have volunteered their time and support to help guide the Bright Bold Next Campaign and make possible our success to date.
CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (IN FORMATION)
Jimmy Berylson ’00, Co-Chair
Young Lee P’24, Co-Chair
Leslie Riedel P’15, ’18, ’26, ’28, Co-Chair
Pam Baker P’23, ’25, ’28
Alexander Band P’30, ’33
Priyanka Bobbili P’37
Raja Bobbili P’37
Abby Fung P’30, ’33
Jason Hafler ’00, P’34, ’36
Kathryn Kargman Holden ’01, P’37, ’39
Richmond Holden ’01, P’37, ’39
Christine Kahvejian P’23, ’24, ’26
Daniel Kanter P’36, ’38
Rachel Kanter P’36, ’38
Indy Keri P’30
Jennifer Price, Head of School
Faiza Riaz P’25, ’28
Gillien Todd P’20, ’25, ’25
Steve Wise ’04, P’36, ’38
“I volunteer and give back to BB&N because I want to honor all my memories but also because I know BB&N strives for continuous improvement, and I want to support their efforts to keep creating such wonderful memories for future students and making their experiences even better! I want my contributions of time and donations to allow BB&N to engage and bolster the community at-large while caring for and educating the future members of this community.”
— Gillien Todd P’20, ’25, ’25, Trustee
Let’s Be Bold Together
BB&N is at a pivotal juncture. We have accomplished so much and the tangible impact of early support for this campaign can be felt on every corner of our campuses, and by every member of our community. Our students are already benefiting from new athletic fields, from an enriched culture of innovation, an increased investment in financial aid, and a strong Annual Fund.
Now it is time to bring this ambitious campaign to the finish line. Your support will allow us to fully transform the Lower School campus, broaden access for deserving students, and expand our ability to be at the forefront of education innovation.
Your support and partnership at this moment really matters. Thank you so much for joining us, as only together can we realize our Bold dreams for this amazing school.
Best, Jennifer Price Head of School
To remain updated on our Campaign progress, we invite you to visit our Campaign website: bbns.org/bright-bold-next
For further information about how you can participate in the Bright Bold Next Campaign, please reach out to Julie Gray at jgray@bbns.org or 617-800-2788.
