Groton School receives $2 million gift in support of GRAIN inclusion and affordability initiative

The Groton School community received another early Christmas present this year, as an anonymous donor family has pledged up to $2 million to support Groton’s announcement that tuition will be free to students whose family income is $150,000 or less. This generous gift will further the school’s ongoing commitment to containing tuition costs while meeting each qualified applicant’s full financial need.

  

“The donor’s focus over the summer was to explore how to extend the transformative potential of the GRAIN mindset with a focus on affordability for the ‘talented missing middle’ which, quite frankly, is often overlooked in awarding financial aid,” said Mr. Maqubela. “With this gift, and the continuing success of GRAIN, every student who applies to Groton can rest assured they’re receiving the best financial aid offer possible.”  

 

While Groton made the decision in 2007 to make education free for families making less than $80,000 annually, Mr. Maqubela explained, that number had not been updated to account for inflation. After a special meeting called by Board of Trustees President Ben Pyne ’77, P’12, ’15, with Mr. Maqubela, Chief Financial Officer Jay Herlihy, and the trustee Executive Committee, the board decided that tuition should be waived for any student whose family’s income is less than $125,000 annually. Upon hearing this, the anonymous donor family responded with a generous commitment of up to $2 million to raise the threshold to $150,000. The gift will underwrite the cost of that higher standard for the next five years, inclusive of current families. 

 

“I’m sincerely grateful to our anonymous donor. This incredible commitment and gift will help us accomplish something really special,” said Mr. Pyne. “Temba, the trustees, and I are truly excited that the stars have aligned this way, allowing us to demonstrate true leadership and keep Groton in the best competitive position.” 

 

In announcing the gift, the donor challenged the greater Groton community to continue its support of GRAIN and the competitive advantage it has given Groton in the pursuit of the best student body possible.

 

“I am very excited to see Groton taking this step,” said the donor. “The ‘GRAIN mindset’ has been shown to meaningfully enhance the educational environment, and other schools have been inspired to follow. The question now is whether Groton will stand still and allow others to catch up or lean further in and maintain its leadership position in being able to attract the very best kids, thereby building the very best peer group for Groton students.”

 

With this gift, $95 million has now been raised, mainly as endowment, to support GRAIN. At this juncture,  more than 85 percent of that total is already gifted in cash. 

 

“I have no doubt the Groton family—led by the trustees, alumni, and parents—will, in short order, find the necessary amount needed to make the increased threshold adjustable for inflation on an ongoing basis,” said Mr. Maqubela. 

 

Groton School does not consider a family’s financial circumstances in making admission decisions. Support is provided throughout a student’s years at Groton so that all students can take full advantage of the Groton experience. Many receive funding for summer study, global education opportunities, travel to and from school, supplies including books and laptop computers, spending accounts, and travel for parents headed to campus for Parents Weekend. 

“The admission team is grateful and thrilled with the news of a gift that will certainly increase our ability to draw exceptional students to Groton School,” said Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Ian Gracey. “The message to our applicants is clear: A Groton education is within your grasp.”  

Adopted by the Board of Trustees in November 2014 as the school’s number-one priority, GRAIN froze tuition for four years and allowed for moderate increases in other years, while expanding the number of students receiving financial assistance and guaranteeing that Groton School would consider all applicants without regard to their ability to pay. As a result, the school’s tuition—the highest among forty peer schools in 2014–15—is now lowest, and Groton is recognized as the leader among independent schools in inclusion and tuition containment.