Why Year-End Giving Matters — and How It Strengthens Our Schools

As the year winds down, many of us take time to reflect on what we’re grateful for — our families, our community, and the opportunities that help our children grow and thrive. For nonprofits like the District 742 Local Education & Activities Foundation (LEAF 742), this season of gratitude is also a season of generosity. Year-end giving plays a vital role in sustaining the programs and opportunities that make a difference for students in St. Cloud Area School District 742.

The Power of Year-End Giving

Did you know that nearly one-third of all charitable donations happen in the final weeks of the year? For organizations like LEAF, those gifts provide the resources to continue supporting classroom innovation, student activities, and essential needs throughout the year.

Your donations fund the grants that bring hands-on learning to life, put instruments in students’ hands, open doors to athletics and arts, and make sure every student can participate — regardless of financial barriers. Year-end gifts don’t just close the books on one year; they open possibilities for the next.

Why It Matters Now

LEAF exists to enhance and expand educational opportunities for all students in District 742. As school budgets tighten and needs grow, private support is more important than ever. Each dollar given through LEAF goes directly back into our local schools — helping teachers inspire creativity, helping students discover their passions, and helping families know their children are supported.

As Regina Johnson, a 3rd-grade teacher at Kennedy Community School, shared:

“LEAF makes a significant and positive difference in my classroom. LEAF allows me to invest in my students’ learning in ways that I may not have been able to before. Thank you, LEAF.”

Regina’s words reflect what hundreds of teachers across District 742 experience each year — the power of community generosity at work.

Ways to Give

There are many ways to make your year-end gift to LEAF:

• Online at leaf742.org/donate — make a one-time or recurring donation.
• Through your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) — recommend a grant to LEAF directly from your fund before year-end.
• Via a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) — if you’re 70½ or older, you can make a tax-free gift to LEAF directly from your IRA or other eligible account.
• By mail — send your gift to LEAF 742, P.O. Box 1132, St. Cloud, MN 56302.

No matter how you give, your generosity strengthens our community and helps every child in District 742 learn, grow, and belong.

Your Gift Makes a Difference

Whether it’s a classroom grant, a student activity fund, or an endowed gift that supports future generations, your contribution helps ensure that our schools remain places of possibility and belonging for every student.

If you’ve ever considered giving back to the schools that helped shape you — or the community that supports our kids — now is the perfect time.

👉 Make your year-end gift today at leaf742.org/donate and help us start the new year strong.