Giving
Why Give?
Thank you for visiting our giving page! Your gift to Bard Early College directly supports our mission to offer our students an exceptional tuition-free education. While we raise as many dollars as we can from public and private grant sources to support our schools, we rely on our community to help us close the gap of educating each Bard Early College student. This year, that amount totals $3,500 per student.
What makes an Early College education so unique?
Our students receive:
- Up to 60+ completely free, transferable Bard College credits for each of our 3,000 students
- Brilliant, caring faculty and staff who offer assistance to students in both high school and college coursework
- Small class sizes and seminar-style courses that empower students in their critical thinking, writing and discussion skills
- Special academic, social, and emotional student support systems
- Financial aid for student travel experiences and free college trips
Your generosity creates outcomes for our students that are unparalleled in American education. Bard Early College students are working towards college degrees two years ahead of schedule, and are studying with college faculty who are experts in their fields! In 2024, over 71% of students completed their AA degrees by the end of high school, and none of them are graduating with any debt.
What’s the difference between Bard Early College and the PTA?
Bard College funds and manages school budgets in partnership with the Department of Education – we share financial responsibility for faculty, staff, and curriculum needs to award students with transferable college credits. In addition, Bard College raises funds to cover the cost of:
- College-level faculty and staff, including academic support positions
- Professional development for faculty and staff
- Faculty research and scholarship
- Special events like Commencement
- Financial aid for unique programs and student travel, including the Summer Intensive at Bard College Berlin and visits to Bard College student conferences in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
- Additional operating costs
The Parent Teacher Association also works hard to cover additional priorities for students — like textbooks, supplies, student activities, arts and enrichment programs, and school events. The PTA covers field trip costs, buses for college trips, and classroom upgrades.
No matter whether donations are given to Bard Early College or to the PTA, all gifts are crucial to the systems needed to guide our young people through a high-quality academic program that awards fully transferable college credits.
We are sincerely grateful for your help and consideration. Please contact our Development Team with any questions and click here to learn more about our Ways to Give.
Lindsay Davis Carr
[email protected]
Director of Development
Rachel Carter
[email protected]
Donor Relations Manager
Volunteerism & Parent Engagement
Additionally, each Bard Early College campus is strengthened by parent and alumni/ae engagement through advisory boards and committees. These groups provide vital support and guidance with education programming, parent outreach, recruitment and admissions, marketing and communications, fundraising, event planning, community organizing, and more. If you are a current parent, alumni/ae parent or alumna/us who is interested in learning more about these opportunities, please contact Olga Ramos at [email protected].
