Dear Families,

Happy New Year!  

We have so much to look forward to with Phase 1 construction to begin toward the end of THIS SUMMER. These necessary improvements will enhance our campus and academic environment for our current and future AMSA students. 

As most of you know, AMSA’s Board of Trustees is committed to spending nearly $30 million on campus improvements for Phase 1 of our project, including: the purchase of 199 and 201 Forest Street, a new academic building, additional parking, and a new campus entrance and traffic circulation pattern. Funding will come from a combination of school equity ($4M) and a tax-exempt bond issued by Silicon Valley Bank (formally Boston Private) guaranteed through MassDevelopment ($24M), plus private fundraising ($2M). 

Often, I am asked "What can I do to help"?  I love this question!  There are many ways to be involved with our capital campaign.  First and foremost, we need monetary support.  Gifts of all sizes make a difference, and we are seeking personally significant support from our community. But, we also need significant help in two other important ways:   1. Identifying potential supporters and 2. Sharing our story, our need, and our potential.   

If you have a lead for us, please reply here.

I am always here for questions, so reach out anytime.  

Sincerely,

Ellen Linzey
Executive Director 

The Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School is a public middle and high school dedicated to inspiring students to become future leaders who will make a difference in traditional and emerging industries and companies.

We provide a tuition-free, college-preparatory education for students from a wide range of backgrounds. AMSA’s rigorous and comprehensive curriculum, with an emphasis on Math, Science, and Technology, prepares students for success in today's cutting-edge fields.

Our graduates excel in top university programs and are becoming the scientists, engineers, programmers, strategists,and visionaries of tomorrow.

Since 2005, we have strived to fulfill our mission to create an atmosphere that celebrates knowledge and creates opportunities for children of all backgrounds and abilities to excel.

We need your support now to put the most current science and technology into our students’ hands in earlier grades. 

Your contribution is essential to our success and will go directly to improving equity in access to science and technology for our diverse student population. Together, we can invest in educational facilities
that are learning laboratories.

Be a part of educating the workforce of tomorrow. Contact us today to
arrange a tour and hear more about how we can work together.

Show Your Support!  

There are many ways to support AMSA today.  

Online

Make your gift online today!

By Mail

Mail in your contribution today:
Attn: Marcy Eckel, Director of Development
AMSA
201 Forest Street
Marlborough, MA  01752

Tribute Gifts

Give a tribute gift to honor or memorialize a special person by mail or online.  AMSA will let the recipient or recipients’ family know of this special recognition. 

Stock Gifts

To make a gift of securities, contact Liana McLaren, (508) 597-2405 or email: lmclaren@amsacs.org.

Pledges

Use this form or contact Marcy Eckel, Director of Development, (617) 869-1268 or meckel@amsacs.org.

Give Through Your Donor-Advised Fund! 

What Is a Donor-Advised Fund? A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a philanthropic giving vehicle that provides an immediate tax benefit to you and allows you to grant funds to charities of your choice.

How to Recommend a Gift to AMSA’s Imagine Campaign

• Request a grant distribution through your DAF sponsor.
• Be sure to use EIN# 46-2457561 
• Indicate that your gift is intended to support the Imagine Campaign

Matching Gifts

A matching gift from your employer is an easy way to double (or even triple!) your impact. Ask your HR department if your company provides matching gifts. 

Additional information about AMSA that may be helpful when completing your matching gift form:
Address: 201 Forest St., Marlborough, MA  01752
Tax ID/EIN: 46-2457561
Contact: Marcy Eckel, Director of Development, (617) 869-1268 or meckel@amsacs.org

Planned Giving

Create Your Legacy - Your legacy gift to AMSA is an investment in transforming our aspirations into results, and in catapulting us to new heights of innovation and achievement. Legacy Giving can provide vital resources that will help us invest in educational facilities that are learning labs for our students.  
To make a gift in your estate plans to support AMSA, contact your attorney or financial planner.  

Giving Societies

Support the Imagine Campaign today! Your gift is an investment in educational facilities that are learning laboratories for our students. While we are grateful for gifts of any size, leadership gifts are critical to our success. Through your support, Eagle Society donors provide the foundation for improving equity in access to science and technology for our diverse student population.  

Membership in the Eagle Society begins at $1,000 with special provisions for our young alumni. A leadership gift to the Eagle Society each year is one of the most significant declarations you can make of your commitment to our mission — and a powerful way to ensure that young people emerge courageously as the individuals they were always meant to be.

Eagle Society donor recognition categories and giving levels:

Leadership Partners:
Platinum Society:  $5,000+
Gold Society:  $2,500-$5,000
Silver Society:  $1,000-$2,500

Big Blue Alumni Support:
Class of 2011:  $500+
Classes of 2012-2013:  $250+
Classes of 2014-2017:  $100
Classes of 2018-2022:  $50

We accept outright gifts, gifts pledged over three years, or monthly recurring gifts. We appreciate your generosity and your willingness to make a stretch gift to support this important initiative that will benefit our school for years to come.  Eagle Society gifts will be recognized in our annual report and through a recognition program in the new building. 

Thank you!  We are ever grateful for your commitment to our school community.  Pledge form

Bricks 

Help us pave the way to the future! Order a brick today to support our capital campaign. These bricks are a great opportunity to honor a family member or loved one, to pay tribute to a favorite teacher or administrator, or to commemorate a graduation.  

Corporate

Our corporate partners play a critical role in our effort to create learning environments that support student achievement. We are proud to say that many leading businesses recognize that partnering with AMSA is good for their local communities—and good for business. Learn more    

Contact Us 

For questions about donations or completing forms, please contact Marcy Eckel, Director of Development, at (617) 869-1268 or meckel@amsacs.org.

Print materials:

Donations are made to the made to the STEM Soaring Eagles Foundation, Inc. The STEM Soaring Eagles Foundation is a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization that was set up to support the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School through fundraising. Donations made to the STEM Soaring Eagles Foundation may be tax deductible and will be used to support AMSA. EIN# 46-2457561.

A gift to the Imagine Campaign will help shape and elevate the learning environment for our students. Your gift also presents a unique opportunity to be permanently recognized on our campus.

We encourage our donors to take advantage of these naming rights, either through an outright gift or  through one that is pledged over three years. You may also choose to pay tribute to a family member or friend through a naming opportunity.

The Imagine Campaign will result in an array of new spaces that can be named, and we'd love to work with you to find the right fit.

For more information, please contact the Development Office (meckel@amsacs.org).

• #2 public high school in Massachusetts and #39 charter high school in nation (U.S. News & World Report 2022).
• Recognized as a Best High School by U.S. News & World Report annually since 2017.
• #1 public middle school, #1 charter middle school, and #1 charter high school in Massachusetts (Niche 2022).
• 2 National Merit Semi-Finalists and 8 Commended Students in Class of 2022.
• 17 Advanced Placement and 5 Accelerated courses offered. 
• 98 AP Scholars in 2022.
• 413 AP exams taken in 2021-2022, with 89% scoring 3, 4, or 5.
• 88% of the Class of 2022 took at least one AP course while at AMSA.
• Math Team Championships:
  • 2016-2017: New England Assoc. of Math Leagues - Small School Div.
  • 2016-2019: Mass. Assoc. of Math Leagues - Small School Div.
  • 2015-2018: Worcester County Math League – Varsity Div. Class A
  • 2012-2018: Worcester County Math League – Freshman Division
• Science Research program offers graduate school level research in Molecular Biology, Geochemistry, Ecology, Biochemistry, Astronomy,and Engineering.
• Scanning Electron Microscope (donated by Thermo Fisher Scientific) gives AMSA students unrivaled learning and research opportunities normally only found in college labs.

AMSA Mission

AMSA will create an atmosphere of celebration of knowledge where children of all backgrounds and abilities excel in all subjects, especially in math, science and technology, empowering them to succeed in the workplace in our modern high-tech world.

AMSA Core Values

• MODEL INTEGRITY: At AMSA, we model integrity by being truthful in our work and caring in our relationships with people.
• PURSUE YOUR EXCELLENCE: At AMSA, we pursue excellence by embracing the joy of learning,by being curious, by working hard, by persevering in the face of obstacles, by embracing creativity and innovation, and by constantly striving to improve. At AMSA, we reach for the stars!
• FOSTER COMMUNITY: At AMSA, we foster community by being good citizens -- by helping others, by appreciating and celebrating diversity, and by collaborating kindly and supportively.

What is a charter school?

Charter schools in Massachusetts are free public schools that are open to all students within the state. Admission is determined by random lottery; there are no entrance exams or admissions requirements. Charter public schools are managed by a public board of trustees and follow the same open-meeting laws and rules as district public schools.

What buildings comprise the AMSA campus and who owns them?

The Advanced Math & Science Academy owns its campus, which includes 165, 199, and 201 Forest Street,
Marlborough, MA 01752. The campus includes three buildings located on twelve (12) acres:

• 165 Forest Street: 4-floor building (48,753 sq. ft) built in 1982, which is owned by AMSA. Currently, AMSA is leasing the 1st floor to SMOC and occupies the 2nd floor. The top two floors are vacant.
• 199 Forest Street: Traditional office building (40,350 sq. ft) built in 1998. AMSA occupies and owns the entire building (3 floors).
• 201 Forest Street: Office building (40,390 sq. ft), built in 1980. AMSA occupies and owns the entire building (3 floors).

How is AMSA funded? Why are donations being sought for the project?

Charter schools are public schools that operate outside of city/town public school districts’ annual budgets. They receive state funding per student, but unlike school districts, must pay for their own buildings and improvements. Charter schools do not have access to Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funds such as other Massachusetts public schools and therefore we are dependent on private bank funding and fundraising.

How will campus renovations be funded?

AMSA is fortunate to have some equity and to have received a bond to pay for most costs associated with purchasing, renovating, and improving our campus buildings. However, the funds we can access will not cover the total expected cost of the needed improvements. We are seeking support from grants, corporate contributions and from parents, families, and friends to help provide for the full cost.

What is the total project budget?

AMSA is investing in the future of our students by seeking to dramatically improve our campus and our students' academic experience. This is a transformational moment in our history, and we want to ensure we have sufficient funds to do all of the needed work.

This is a major facilities upgrade. Funded by savings and loans, we purchased our campus buildings and are making much-needed additions and improvements to classrooms and infrastructure. 

The purchase of our campus buildings and needed improvements are expected to cost $30M. AMSA is funding acquisition and improvements through a combination of school equity ($5M), a tax-exempt bond issued by Boston Private and guaranteed through MassDevelopment ($24M) and philanthropy ($2M).

Are charitable contributions made to the capital campaign tax deductible?

Donations can be made to the STEM Soaring Eagles Foundation, Inc. The STEM Soaring Eagles Foundation is a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization that was set up to support the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School through fundraising. Donations made to the STEM Soaring Eagles Foundation may be tax deductible and will be used to support AMSA. EIN# 46-2457561

How do I donate? How can I make my gift or pledge?

We can accept your gift in the form of a check, credit card, or other options for longterm giving opportunities. Please make checks payable to The STEM Soaring Eagles, Inc. and mail to AMSA Charter School, 201 Forest Street,Marlborough, MA 01752. You can also donate online.

Can I give to the Capital Campaign in my company’s name?

We are flexible. Donors have choices on how to give as a company or from personal income, or to be creative and combine gifts with personal and company funds.

Will donations be restricted? How do I make sure my donation will go to the Capital Campaign?

All donations made to the school during the Capital Campaign will go to the campus construction project unless specifically directed to another program.

Who makes the decisions? Who has the oversight?

The AMSA Board of Trustees in conjunction with the Board of Trustees of The STEM Soaring Eagles Foundation, Inc. have oversight of the Capital Campaign. For the duration of the campaign, the overall fiduciary and operational responsibilities sit with the members of the AMSA Board. This group provides the ongoing leadership needed to ensure transparency and integrity over the life of the campaign’s key priority areas. The Board will ensure that the funds raised are managed effectively in accordance with IRS rules and capital campaign purposes including any donor-directed restrictions. The Development Committee acts in a planning capacity to move the campaign plan and strategy forward. The Executive Director and members of the AMSA Board and STEM Soaring Eagles Board are on the Development Committee so there is coordination and overlap of the three organizations and their respective missions.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Contact Ellen Linzey, Executive Director, at elinzey@amsacs.org.

Once I make my campaign gift, how else can I help?

Spread the word! In order for our Capital Campaign to be successful, we need help connecting with potential donors.

Will donors (and donation amounts) be publicly acknowledged?

Unless requested to be anonymous, all donations to the campaign will be acknowledged both in campaign recognition materials (print and digital) and in a form of signage (to be determined) in a central location on the renovated campus (to be determined).

If I cannot make a campaign gift or pledge now, can I still give something at a future date?

Our overall success is connected to our fundraising progress over the next 18-20 months. We realize circumstances change and contributions to the campaign are welcome now and in the future.

Does AMSA receive matching gifts?

Absolutely! Matching gifts are the perfect way to increase your gift! Many business owners and/or professionals are employed by companies who may offer this charitable benefit option. It is also worth exploring if your spouse or partner has a corporate matching program.