Alumni Volunteer Handbook
Volunteers are the foundation of The ESD Fund.
Dear ESD Alumni,
I want to extend my sincerest gratitude for your invaluable service as a volunteer to help raise money for The ESD Fund. Your dedication and commitment are the backbone of our efforts, and we are incredibly fortunate to have you as part of our team.
The work you do is profoundly important. The time you dedicate, every task you undertake, directly contributes to ESD’s mission of Igniting Lives of Purpose. Thanks to your efforts, the school can uphold its promise of an academically rigorous curriculum, brought to life by highly skilled faculty. You are truly making a tangible difference in the lives of our students.
To help you in your crucial roles, we’ve developed a training manual. This manual is designed to equip you with all the knowledge and tools you’ll need to excel in your volunteer duties. It covers the nuts and bolts of an annual fund, important dates, examples of asks, and other information for you to be successful. We are confident that by utilizing this resource, you will feel well-prepared and empowered to handle any situation that may arise, ensuring your experience as a volunteer is as smooth and rewarding as possible.
Thank you once again for your incredible service. I look forward to continuing our work together and achieving great things for The ESD Fund. Go Eagles!
Sincerely,
Asia Hawkins Director of Alumni Major Gift Officer
Eastin Family WORX Internship Program Partner Liaison
The ESD Fund volunteers play a crucial role by working with the Advancement Staff to reach the School’s annual fundraising goals. This handbook includes information to support you with your fundraising efforts, and in speaking with your peers about giving to The ESD Fund.
What is The ESD Fund?
To give to The ESD Fund is to directly invest in the core mission and daily excellence of the school. Here are key details and impact areas that the Fund supports:
DEFINITION AND PURPOSE:
Definition: The ESD Fund is the school's annual giving program, providing immediate, unrestricted support to the operating budget every year.
Purpose: It is critical because it funds the gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of an ESD education. These dollars are flexible and can be allocated where the need is greatest each year.
WHAT THE FUND SUPPORTS (KEY IMPACT AREAS):
Faculty Excellence: Funding professional development, competitive salaries, and innovative teaching methods
Student Experience: Supporting extracurriculars, athletics, arts, and missionbased programs (e.g. chapel, service learning)
Tuition Assistance: Ensuring all Eagles are able to fully experience an ESD education
Technology and Resources: Upgrading campus technology and classroom materials.
2025-2026 FUND GOALS
Overall Giving $2,000,000
Alumni Giving $350,000
Number of Alumni Gifts 290 Alumni Participation 10%
The ESD Fund provides unrestricted support to the annual operating budget, helping to bridge the 20% gap between tuition and the budgeted cost of an ESD education.
Why is alumni participation important?
IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY:
Direct Impact: Every dollar supports the current student experience, today
Foundation Support: High alumni participation rates (the percentage of alumni who make a gift, regardless of amount) are tracked by rating agencies and our peer schools. High participation signifies a healthy, supportive community - leading to greater impact for students, faculty, resources, and programming at ESD.
A Vote of Confidence: A gift, no matter the size, is your vote of confidence in the school's mission and future.
THE POWER OF EVERY GIFT:
• Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference!
• Your primary goal as a volunteer is to secure participation from your classmates. That collective action and your personal outreach is the most powerful measure of alumni support.
• We are seeking your support, as well, to be all-in and make your gift to The ESD Fund.
Ways To Give
FOR YOURSELF AND CLASSMATES:
Outright Gifts are one-time gifts paid in full.
(Ex. An alum makes a one-time gift of $100 via credit card.)
One-Year Pledge is a written communication to pay any fixed amount within the current fiscal year. These can be set up online or through an Office of Advancement staff member. They are to be paid by the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2026) and are payable in any form.
(Ex. An alum pledges $100 on March 1, agreeing to pay the gift in full by June 30, 2026, the last day of the fiscal year at ESD.)
Recurring Gifts can be made online with a credit card. A gift of any amount can be scheduled monthly, quarterly, or annually for a duration of up to five years - allowing you to set it and forget it!
(Ex. An alum signs up to give $10 per month for 10 months from September to June, totaling a gift of $100 for the fiscal year. The gift is set up as a recurring credit card charge on a date/schedule determined by the donor.)
The Power of the 5-Year Pledge (Reunion Focus): Encourage classmates to make an annual pledge commitment for the five-year period until the next reunion. This instantly locks in your class gift goal, provides ESD with predictable, sustainable funding, and minimizes future solicitation asks for the donor.
(Ex. To celebrate their 10th class reunion, an alum commits to a $1,000 pledge over 5 years. This means they will make a gift of $250 per year for the next 5 years, automating your annual giving until your next class reunion.)
Matching Gifts Many companies offer gift-matching programs that can double or triple employees’ personal gifts to The ESD Fund. ESD maintains a database of many matching gift companies at esdallas.org/giving. ESD’s Federal Identification Number is 75-1451116.
(Ex. An alum makes an outright gift of $250. They submit a matching gift form to their employer, who matches the gift 1:1. The final total gift received is $500.)
PAYMENT METHODS
Online
ESD accepts Google Pay, Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Venmo, and Paypal. Make a gift online via our secure giving website at esdallas.org/giving
By Check
Checks are payable to "The Episcopal School of Dallas" with "The ESD Fund" in the memo line.
Please mail checks to:
The Episcopal School of Dallas Office of Alumni 4100 Merrell Road Dallas, TX 75229
The ESD Fund can be directed to support the Area of Greatest Needs: Athletics, Fine Arts, Faculty Professional Development, Tuition Assistance, Technology, Outdoor Education or where the School needs it most.
GIVING SOCIETIES
Recognition by a giving society is based on cash gifts to The ESD Fund in a given fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Corporations’ matching gifts are included in determining the total gift amount from a donor for giving society recognitions.
The Society ’74 commemorates ESD’s founding year and recognizes leadership giving to The ESD Fund. Last year, 275 parents, alumni, faculty, staff, parents of alumni, and grandparents became Society ’74 members by contributing more than $2,042,604.
YOUNG ALUMNI LEADERSHIP CIRCLE (2010 – 2025)
1-5 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION (2021-25) GIFT OF $250+
6-10 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION (2016-20) GIFT OF $500+
11-15 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION (2011-15) GIFT OF $1,000+
HOW TO MAKE THE ASK tips for success examples
Personalize It:
Avoid copy-paste. Always mention a shared memory, teacher or experience.
State Your "Why":
Explain why you support The ESD Fund (e.g., "I give because I want to ensure that teachers who supported me are supported today").
Make It Easy:
Always include the direct giving link.
Follow Up:
A brief, friendly second ask often works best.
Text Message Script (Short, Personal, Urgent)
• Context: Best for close friends
Sample language: “Hey [Name]! Hope youare doing great” As you know, I'm helping with the [Reunion/Alumni Board] this year, and we're trying to raise 290 gifts for The ESD Fund before the end of the school year. I made my gift because [Your Personal Reason]. Would you join me with a gift of any size today? [Direct Link]"
Kam Bakewell
DIRECTOR OF THE ESD FUND & MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER
bakewellk@esdallas.org
214-353-5808
Giving Link: esdallas.org/giving
Email Script (More Detailed, Storytelling)
• Context: Best for classmates you haven't spoken to recently or for a more formal ask.
• Compelling Subject Line Ideas:
» Join me in supporting The ESD Fund
» A quick ask for our class reunion.
Body Template: "Dear [Name], I hope this note finds you well. As a fellow alum and a [Board Member/Reunion Chair], I'm writing to you about the importance of The ESD Fund.
The ESD Fund is important because it directly impacts the resources and programming that the school is able to provide for students and teachers. The cost of tuition covers 80% of an ESD education; gifts to The ESD Fund help close this gap to ensure ESD can operate at its highest level.
I recently made my annual gift because [Your Personal Reason/Story, e.g., 'I remember how much Mr. Easton made an impact on my life, and I want to ensure that teachers today have the resources they need to do the same for current students'].
Gifts of any amount help us hit our goal. Could you join me in making your annual gift today?
[Direct Link to Giving Page]
Thank you, [Your Name]"
KEY RESOURCES
Asia Hawkins ’13
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER hawkinsa@esdallas.org
214-353-5753
Fiscal Year End: Final date to make a gift for the 20252026 school year is June 30, 2026