Welcome - Director of Development

Where do the contributions go?
Donor support affects many areas of Jesuit High School:
- Maintaining the physical campus
- Enhancing the physical, academic, and spiritual needs of the campus
- Financial assistance
- Tuition cost controls
Ultimately, all of these areas impact the most important aspect of Jesuit High School - every Jesuit student!
- JESUIT’S PHYSICAL CAMPUS is served through funds to maintain the cleanliness, safety, and appearance of the facility, as well as implementing necessary renovations on a timely basis. Specifically, Annual Fund dollars help the school when unforeseen emergencies arise on campus. Like individual homeowners, Jesuit is faced with unexpected maintenance problems on occcasion. Much of the six-decade-old campus is prone to common dilemmas: air conditioning breakdowns, roof leaks, extensive plumbing or electrical issues, etc. These problems can arise suddenly, and must be dealt with immediately to avoid disruptions in Jesuit’s academic and extracurricular activities. Annual Giving helps Jesuit be prepared to meet this important need.
- CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS help the school remain the best among Tampa Bay area preparatory schools. Between 2003 and 2008, the $8 million "Honoring Our Traditions" Capital Campaign enabled Jesuit to add the new Fr. Michael Kennelly S.J. Technology Wing, a theater style learning facility outfitted with all new computers and support equipment. The Capital Campaign also allowed for the construction of the Fr. Richard Hartnett S.J. Classroom Building, the Al Lopez Sr. ’27 Sports Complex, the A.M.D.G. Celebration Plaza and Jesuit Memorial Bell Tower. The library, gymnasium and cafeteria were also renovated by funds from the Capital Campaign. The stadium athletics field also received a major overhaul with the installation of a top quality turf field and rubber track. This was followed by the $2 million "Upholding the Tiger Tradition" Capital Campaign which helped make possible the construction of Jesuit's new baseball facility, Hyer Family Park, which opened in late February, 2011. These important new additions and enhancements could not have been possible without our generous capital campaign donors.
- FINANCIAL AID to students of families in need has been a tradition at Jesuit since the school opened its doors in 1899. It has allowed the school to educate academically qualified boys from all socio-economic backgrounds and maintain its diversity. In 1975, Jesuit’s Financial Aid Endowment was established to help the school enable students from low-income and struggling families to attend the school. The program extends limited support based entirely on need. Jesuit High School now provides well over $2 million annually in financial assistance. A third-party processing firm and a committee of lay people objectively analyze the criterion each year to determine how this aid is distributed. For more information on Financial Aid eligibility and application, please go to Tuition Information in the Admissions section of this website. The continuing support for financial aid has been essential to Jesuit High School fulfilling its mission.
Does Jesuit provide academic or athletic scholarships?
Jesuit does not provide scholarships based on athletic performance, nor does it issue student loans. However, there are several means for Jesuit students to receive tuition assistance:
1. Financial Aid
Students who have been academically accepted for enrollment can apply for tuition assistance through the Financial Aid Endowment program. All families are welcome to apply for aid. Jesuit’s financial aid program is designed to provide tuition relief for lower income or disadvantaged families, and assistance is granted solely on need-based circumstances. A third-party processing firm and a committee of lay people objectively analyze the criterion each year to determine how this aid is distributed. In recent years, more than 30% of the Jesuit student body has received more than $2 million annually in financial aid.
2. Step Up For Students Scholarship
Jesuit High School is a participating school with the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and Step Up For Students. This program provides income-based scholarships to qualified families. Families new to the program will be able to apply in the spring. Renewing families may apply now. Click here to learn more about how the scholarship works and to view the income chart.
3. Saint Ignatius Scholarship Award
Jesuit High School's Saint Ignatius Scholar Program, established in 2014, is a merit-based tuition assistance program designed to attract and retain students of exceptional scholastic ability whose scores on the High School Placement Test (HSPT) are in the top 2% nationwide. In addition, qualified students will be evaluated on the basis of character, faith, service, and need. (Click here for a Jesuit website story about the school's Ignatius Scholars.)
Jesuit High School will provide two Ignatius Scholars, chosen from the pool of Ignatius Scholar finalists (the top 2% on HSPT), with an annual award of half the cost of tuition for each of their four years at Jesuit. In addition, two Ignatius Scholar finalists are selected as Loyola Scholars, with an annual award of one-quarter the cost of tuition for four years. All remaining Ignatius Scholar finalists who enroll at Jesuit receive $1,000 toward tuition their freshman year.
While the Ignatius Scholar awards are separate from and, in some cases, supplementary to Jesuit’s need-based financial aid awards, the financial need of those who qualify for Ignatius Scholarships, relative to that of other Ignatius Scholar qualifiers, is one of several factors in the final decision.
For more and to apply information contact admissions director Steve Matesich '91 at smatesich@jesuittampa.org.
4. Saint Alberto Hurtado Scholarship Award
Jesuit High School's Hurtado Service Program, established in 2017, is a merit-based tuition assistance program designed to attract and retain students of exceptional moral character who have a strong personal desire to serve those in need in the community. Jesuit provides two Hurtado Scholars in each incoming class with an annual award of $8,000 in tuition assistance for each of their four years at Jesuit.
The Hurtado Service Program is separate from Jesuit’s need-based financial aid award. However, the financial need of those who qualify for Hurtado Scholarships, relative to that of other Hurtado Scholar qualifiers, is one of several factors in the final decision.
For more information and to apply contact admissions director Steve Matesich '91 at smatesich@jesuittampa.org.
5. Additional FLDOE Scholarships
The Gardiner Scholarship Program offered by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) provides eligible students a scholarship that can be used to purchase approved services or products in order to design a customized educational program for the student. Scholarships can be used for specialized services such as speech or occupational therapy, instructional materials, tuition at an eligible private school, contributions to a college prepaid account, and more. The program is directly administered by state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organizations. Click here to learn more about the Gardiner Scholarship, and to apply.
The McKay Scholarship Program offered by FLDOE provides more than 30,000 Florida students with special needs the opportunity to attend a participating private school. Florida's school choice programs allow parents to choose the best educational setting—public or private—for their child. Click here to learn more about the McKay Scholarship, and to apply.
How does the Financial Aid Endowment work?
The endowment provides the school with a permanent fund or source of income. The money donated for Jesuit’s Financial Aid Endowment is invested, and each year the proceeds from the investment interest are used to fund the school’s financial aid program without sacrificing the principal investment.
I made a gift to the school - why was my name not included in the Annual Report?
Can I designate how my gift will benefit Jesuit?
- Annual Giving Drive
- Financial Aid Endowments, Honorary and Memorial Gifts
- Matching Gifts
- Planned Giving 1899 Bequest Society
- Gifts In-kind
- Gaudiosa Dinner, Dance and Auction Gala
- Fr. Hartnett S.J. Memorial Golf Classic
I've heard Jesuit owns property and is financially well off - is there really a need to donate?
Jesuit High School is fortunate to have property rental income from land that the school purchased for the Himes Avenue campus relocation in 1956. This income represents less than 10 percent of Jesuit’s operating revenues. While the rental property income helps Jesuit pay bills, roughly 90 percent of Jesuit’s annual operating revenues are raised through other methods, including tuition, fees, and charitable contributions. It is through the generosity of our donors and sound advice from our volunteer team of financial consultants that Jesuit is able to overcome this deficit each year.
Is my gift to Jesuit tax deductible?
Yes! As a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, all monetary gifts to Jesuit High School are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Upon receipt of your donation, Jesuit will send you an official acknowledgement of your gift. Please retain this acknowledgement for your tax professional.
How is financial aid distribution determined?
The qualifications for financial aid are established by a third party processing company that is approved by the Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA). In addition to the independent processing company, an impartial school sub-committee evaluates the applications and determines the distribution of aid on an individual basis to those who meet the need-based criteria. The amount of financial aid granted varies according to need.
Who manages the endowment investments?
Why not raise tuition instead of asking for donations?
Jesuit’s mission of forming “men engaged in the world who are dedicated to serving God by being open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, caring, and just” is not intended only for those who can afford it. A dramatic tuition increase will result in vastly reducing the social and economic diversity of the school. The diversity of Jesuit’s student body helps enrich the overall Jesuit educational experience for every young man who attends the school. As tuition grows from year to year, it is the middle-income families -- those who cannot qualify for Jesuit’s financial aid program -- who may feel the biggest squeeze. While students from lower-income or disadvantaged families are eligible for Jesuit’s Financial Aid Endowment program, and students from more affluent families are less impacted by high tuition rates, the middle-income families can be caught in the middle as tuition escalates. For this reason, Jesuit does everything in its power to maintain social and economic diversity by limiting annual tuition increases to prevent the school from becoming financially exclusive.
Why should I donate if I already pay tuition?
How much should I give?
Each and every gift, regardless of size, is vital in helping Jesuit High School meet its financial obligations and goals. Each and every gift makes a difference to the students of Jesuit High School today, and to those yet to be.
What are Jesuit's Gift Clubs?
Jesuit, like many non-profit institutions, has established gift club levels to assist the school’s leading benefactors in setting an example to encourage other financially capable supporters. By recognizing high-level donors through the gift clubs, Jesuit hopes the example of generosity, good stewardship, and commitment will inspire others to respond in kind.
- A.M.D.G. Society, $100,000 or more
- IHS Society, $50,000 -- $99,999
- St. Ignatius Society, $25,000 -- $49,999
- Magis Society, $10,000 -- $24,999
- Founder’s Club, $5,000 -- $9,999
- Men for Others Club, $2,500 -- $4,999
- President's Club, $1,500 -- $2,499
- Tiger Club, $500 -- $1,499
- Century Club, $100 -- $499
- Friends of Jesuit, gifts up to $99