The Cape May Fund
Planting seeds of hope since 1993.
A Fund for Education
Supporting Effective Urban Schools
Serving Students Who Rely on Scholarships.
The Cape May Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that pools individual gifts to provide critical support to small but effective schools. The Fund targets schools serving children who rely on scholarship support to afford the charged tuition. By pooling the gifts of many and keeping expenses low (1-2% of annual donations), we:
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make a sizable annual grant while sparing each school’s staff the time and effort required to record and acknowledge multiple gifts.
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allow our contributors to support many deserving young people and the schools they attend by writing a single check each year.
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The Cape May Fund receives contributions from its members and their friends and families, distributing these gifts in the form of an annual grant to each school.
We invite you to join us in our quest to plant seeds of hope in the hearts and minds of tomorrow's leaders.
Join Us
In Loving Memory
We were deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Kevin O'Leary, in March of 2022. Kevin and his wife, Jane, played key roles in establishing the Cape May Fund in 1993 and, along with their daughters, Kate, Maeve, Nora, and Charlotte, have given generously every year.
In 2014, Kevin raised his hand to serve as our President, setting fundraising records each year and increasing the size of the Fund's gifts to schools. We miss Kevin dearly and pledge to continue this work with the same passion that Kevin demonstrated throughout the years.
Our Story
A Shared Belief in the Power of Education
Back in 1988, a group of Georgetown University alumni/ae and their families gathered in Cape May, New Jersey to enjoy a fun weekend by the shore together. The weekend proved to be so uplifting and fun that the weekend became an annual event that continues today. During an evening discussion at the 1992 weekend, the group decided to launch a vehicle allowing us to pool our funds to support a handful of schools striving to serve young people in areas where family resources are severely limited. Thus began The Cape May Fund.
Since 1993, The Cape May Fund has been pooling charitable contributions made by members, family members, friends, and fellow Georgetown alumni/ae. All of the directors and officers volunteer their time and effort every year to keep the expenses as low as possible, even contributing the cost of printed materials and postage stamps.
As you will see in the photograph on the left, our family gatherings grew every year as we welcomed more and more children into our lives. With the passage of years, many of these children are now proud college graduates pursuing careers. We are thrilled to see these young men and women raising their hands to play important roles in guiding The Cape May Fund forward.
A Labor of Love
Making the Most of Your Generous Gifts
To insure that the maximum amount of your gift reaches the schools we serve, the effort is 100% volunteer powered.
On average, the Fund's expenses average 1-2 % of total contributions each year. Annual contributions are distributed as grants to the schools in the same year they are raised.
The Fund maintains a small endowment to insure its ability to provide consistent grant levels from year to year.
“Ninety-four percent of our families are below the poverty line, so we need to help them all with tuition assistance and so much More.”
- Pat Quinter -
Principal
Holy Name School
Camden, New Jersey