Giving Overview - Xavier High School

Giving

A woman in the foreground holds up a paddle with the number 291, while a crowd of people are seated at tables in the blurred background of an event.

You make Xavier possible.

Every gift helps intelligent, motivated young men become Sons of Xavier who go forth to transform the world for God’s greater glory. Through engagement, events, annual giving, and strategic planning, we advance the mission of the school to form young men in the Ignatian tradition.

Not sure where to begin? Support Xavier’s areas of greatest need where your gift makes an immediate impact and helps us meet today’s most urgent priorities by viewing the giving priorities below.

Support Xavier

Every gift strengthens our mission of forming men for others.

Giving Priorities

Annual Fund

The Xavier Annual Fund is the primary vehicle for all alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff, and students to provide resources for immediate support of Xavier’s mission. Each dollar raised goes to critical operating needs, such as financial aid, faculty development, athletics, JROTC, Campus Ministry, student activities, the arts, technology, and more.

Tuition does not cover the full cost to educate our students; the Annual Fund provides 11% of the operating budget each year. These current-use funds allow Xavier’s leadership to act with courage and creativity in addressing the greatest needs.

Give to the Annual Fund

Gala

The Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala is Xavier's premier fundraising event to support scholarships and financial aid. For the past 15 years, money raised through the gala has kept Xavier accessible and affordable for intelligent, motivated students with demonstrated financial needs. As much as any gift, Gala scholarships change lives.

The Gala is a unique opportunity for parents, alumni, and friends to gather under one roof with a shared goal—to keep Xavier strong for generations to come. The evening includes student performances, a dinner program, and live and silent auctions.

This past school year, the gala reached new heights this year with record breaking attendance and support of Xavier's Fund-a-Student Initiative—which raised enough money to support 13 full scholarships in a matter of minutes.

The 2027 Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala will take place on Friday, April 16. Information on tickets, sponsorships, and more will be available in the coming months. If you are interested in learning more or in volunteering for the gala, there will be a volunteer information session and social on Tuesday, September 22.

Scholarships

Donors have various options when establishing a scholarship. Xavier's Advancement Office will work with you to ensure that your wishes and hopes are realized while helping keep Xavier affordable and accessible.

Xavier's endowment is the primary means by which we provide both merit-based and need-based aid to students. Gifts to Xavier’s endowment are placed in Xavier's endowment fund and invested.

A donor may make a pledge to establish a new endowed scholarship and choose to pay it off over a three- to five-year period. Pledges can be fulfilled utilizing any asset class from cash or securities to gifts from an estate or, for those 70½ years of age or older, from an IRA.

Xavier draws approximately 4% annually from its endowment. A full-tuition, named scholarship may be endowed with a gift of $500,000, and a half-tuition named scholarship may be endowed with a gift of $250,000.

Gifts can also be made at any time to any pre-existing endowed scholarships.

Xavier also provides the opportunity to directly support a current student in need by making a year-after-year commitment to a current-use scholarship. These gifts make an immediate impact and help many students who would be unable to attend Xavier without financial support.

We are here to help you help our Sons of Xavier. For more information about endowment gifts, please contact Vice President for Advancement Shane Lavin '03 at lavins@xavierhs.org or by calling (212) 337-7611.

Capital Giving

Donors who choose to make capital gifts can direct their support toward a specific purpose that matches their personal interests with the needs and priorities of Xavier. Such purposes include facilities and special projects. Capital gifts may also lead to recognition opportunities, which honor or memorialize a person of the donor's choosing.

Pursuing "excellence in every endeavor" means our students deserve exceptional facilities. Teaching and learning has changed greatly over our 179-year history. Maintaining and updating learning spaces and other facilities allows us to continue evolving and growing. Xavier has a number of opportunities for donors wishing to direct their gift towards capital facilities projects and improvements as well endowing programs or activities.

For more information about facilities gifts and special projects, please contact Vice President for Advancement Shane Lavin '03 at lavins@xavierhs.org or by calling (212) 337-7611.

Hall of Fame

The Xavier Hall of Fame exists to honor the Sons of Xavier and Xavier faculty and staff who exemplify the highest ideals of Jesuit education: men and women who are distinctively dedicated to serving their community, their church, and their nation; men and women who by the example of their lives give glory to God and honor to their fellow man. It is expected that all members of the Hall of Fame by their commitment to and embodiment of the ideals of Jesuit education serve as examples to others and make the world a better place by helping to bring about God’s kingdom. You can read more about the criteria for Hall of Fame nominations here.

The honorees will be inducted at the Hall of Fame Dinner in fall 2027. Nominations are now open for individuals to be inducted into the Xavier Hall of Fame. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, October 30. You can read more about the criteria for Hall of Fame nominations here.

Please submit a nomination online or download a nomination form and email it to Director of Special Events Ryan Kirwan at kirwanr@xavierhs.org.

Watch Previous Hall of Fame video Honor roll view photo album

A knight mascot and a cheerleader with pom-poms stand in the foreground, while an audience watches from bleachers in the background.

11%

of the operating budget is covered by the Annual Fund

55%

of students receive merit or need-based tuition assistance

$11,368

average need-based award in the 2025-26 school year

13

full scholarships funded at the 2026 Celebrate Xavier Scholarship Gala

Why We Give: Donor Stories

Matthew Perez ’01

"Xavier has been the single greatest influence on the man I have become, and the man I am still trying to be. My character, my work ethic, my sense of right and wrong, how I show up as a father and a husband, how I engage strangers and friends: a remarkable amount of it traces back to my time spent on 16th Street."

Luca Blankenbuehler ’25

“I could not turn away the opportunity to show my gratitude to this school and the people who made Xavier a second home for me. I could not turn away the opportunity to help make another student’s four years as enriching and formative as my own.”

Gardy Joachim ’95

"Xavier has always allowed me to direct my donations towards initiatives that I’m most passionate about, such as those promoting inclusion in the classroom. This flexibility is extremely important to me because I believe education is the great equalizer."

Explore Giving Societies

Giving societies are communities of dedicated benefactors whose generosity sustains Xavier High School’s mission. They exist to recognize and unite those whose consistent, meaningful support empowers Xavier to meet its greatest needs and dream of possibilities for growth.

The President’s Council

The President’s Council is composed of those donors who step forward as philanthropic leaders through their annual contributions. Members set an example of generosity for fellow alumni, parents, students, and friends and play a vital role in ensuring that Xavier continues to thrive and grow each year. These generous contributors are recognized at the following annual gift levels.

The President’s Council
Father Larkin Circle
$100,000+
Father Ryan Circle
$25,000 – $99,999
Father Driscol Circle
$10,000 – $24,999
Father Durthaller Circle
$5,000 – $9,999
Father Loyzance Circle
$2,500 – $4,999
Father Loyzance Circle, graduates out more than 50 years
$1,500 – $4,999

The Young Alumni President’s Council
2012 (15th Reunion)
$1,000+
2013 – 2017 (10th Reunion)
$500+
2018 – 2022 (5th Reunion)
$250+
2023 – 2026
$50+

Annual Giving Levels

Xavier is grateful to benefit from the charitable contributions of a dedicated and generous community. Each year, Xavier is pleased to recognize its donors at various levels of annual giving.

All donors are recognized in the Annual Report printed each fall.

Xavier Society
$1,000 – $2,499
Loyola Associates
$500 – $999
Knights Club
$100 – $499
Companions
$1 – $99

1847 Society

The 1847 Society was established to provide much-deserved recognition to those donors Xavier can count on to contribute each and every year. Members of the 1847 Society are the cornerstone of Xavier's success, providing the means by which the school can stay true to its mission and improve the quality of the educational experience. Gifts of any amount to all funding areas are counted toward 1847 Society membership. Consecutive years of giving are counted by fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30.

Maroon and Blue Society

The Maroon and Blue Lifetime Giving Society was created in 2006 to recognize members of the Xavier community whose lifetime giving has reached or exceeded $100,000 in cash receipts. Membership in this society is determined by the cash gifts contributed since donations were recorded and tracked in 1982. Xavier applauds the extraordinary commitment of these individuals who have allowed the work of Xavier to thrive over the years.

Larkin Legacy Society

The Larkin Legacy Society honors those who make a planned gift to Xavier High School and thereby create a legacy that advances faith, learning, service, and leadership beyond their lifetime.

Every planned gift represents a powerful statement about the values and beliefs that define Xavier and relationships that stand the test of time. They strengthen Xavier’s ability to provide a rigorous Jesuit education and keep it accessible to intelligent, motivated young men who might not otherwise have the opportunity. They ensure that 16th Street remains a proving ground for tomorrow’s leaders.

Planned gifts, such as bequests or beneficiary designations, reflect a deep commitment to the school’s future and a belief that the work of Jesuit education on 16th Street should endure for generations to come.

Including Xavier in your estate plans can be simple and straightforward. Planned gifts can offer sizable tax savings and certain arrangements can even provide income for you and your family. Getting started is often the hardest part. The first step involves updating your will to include a gift to Xavier High School. Step two involves informing Xavier of your planned giving intention and allowing us to welcome you into the Larkin Legacy Society.

Designating Xavier High School as a beneficiary of your retirement account is one of the easiest ways to make a continuing gift. There is no need to modify a will or living trust. All you need to do is complete a beneficiary designation form with your plan administrator. Giving a portion of your retirement assets to Xavier in this way makes them 100 percent tax-exempt, increasing the value of your gift even more!

If you have any questions about including Xavier in your will or other estate plans, please contact Brian McCabe P’23 ’30, Director of Annual and Planned Giving, or any member of the a dvancement team. We are all happy to help you.

As a longtime teacher, coach, and the parent of a recent graduate, I have seen firsthand the growth and success of those receiving a Xavier education. Our donations and gifts to the Annual Fund give others that same opportunity. I give because I believe in the mission.

Joseph McGrane P’20, chair of physical health and education department

Upcoming and Live Campaigns

Phonathon (October 6-7)

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