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The ACS Fund | Matching Gifts | Endowment Funds | Memorial Funds | Other Funding Opportunities | Ways to Give | Donor Recognition

The ACS Fund

The ACS Fund, our Annual Giving Campaign, is the school’s top philanthropic priority. Each year, we invite all members of our community to make a tax-deductible gift that provides vital, flexible support beyond what tuition alone can cover. The ACS Fund benefits 100% of our students. Gifts of all sizes matter, and when everyone participates, it shows we're ALL IN for ACS.

Your Gift, Your Choice

New this year, direct your ACS Fund gift to the area that matters most to you.

Give to the ACS Fund

ACS Fund Designations

ACS Fund: Academics & Activities

ACS Fund: Faculty Excellence

ACS Fund: Financial Aid

ACS Fund: School Campus

ACS Fund: Areas of Greatest Need

Matching Gifts

Matching Gift and Volunteer Grant information provided by

Endowment Funds

Endowment gifts provide financial stability so Avery Coonley can continue to serve students far into the future. Only the investment income from the endowment is used so the principal can continue to grow.

Financial Aid Endowment

General Endowment

Professional Development Endowment

Memorial Funds

Memorial funds provide scholarships and support the academic experience while remembering treasured members of our community.

Dennis Murphy Memorial Fund
Patricia Huebner Memorial Scholarship Fund

Dennis Murphy Memorial Fund

Gifts to the Dennis Murphy Memorial Fund support student education as well as educational trips, including the Group Seven annual trip to Washington, D.C.

Dennis was the husband of retired Middle School social studies teacher Deborah Murphy and the father of Kristin Murphy Scherago ’87 and Laura Murphy Ferri ’89. Mr. Murphy was also a beloved substitute teacher at ACS, subbing a remarkable 422 days in a variety of subjects. His enthusiasm, joy, and sincere care for each individual made him a favorite substitute at Avery Coonley. Students were always excited to see “Mr. Murphy”; some even declared him “the nicest man in the world,” an unofficial title that he received with his typical grace and humility.

Dennis also accompanied Debbie and her Group Seven students on their annual trip to Washington, D.C., on several occasions. He enjoyed getting to know the students and parent chaperones outside the classroom and was able to share his love for American history as well as his considerable talents as a tour guide and host.

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Patricia Huebner Memorial Scholarship Fund

Gifts to the Patricia Huebner Memorial Scholarship Fund provide support for ACS students who qualify for significant financial aid from the School. Contributions help cover the costs of materials, fees, special events, class activities, and trips for students who might not otherwise be able to afford them.

Pat had a 36-year career in education and was a longtime member of the ACS community, joining as a counselor/coordinator of student services in 1989. During her 11 years working at Avery Coonley, she took on many roles, including assistant head and dean of students. She left Avery Coonley to become the director of guidance/counseling and social work at Hinsdale Central High School.

Pat served as a member of the ACS Board of Trustees from 2006–16 and then as an honorary trustee. She was also a member of the ACS Alumni Council. Many students remember Pat’s kindness and compassion for them. She continually gave to generations of ACS families through her enthusiasm, generosity, and commitment to ACS’s mission.

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Other Funding Opportunities

Campus Beautification and Preservation

Debate Team

Library Enrichment

Morse Grants Program

The Lucia Burton Morse Grants Program is designed to enhance the classroom experience for both teachers and students. These grants will fund educational activities that go beyond routine professional development — they will create unique opportunities, broaden experiences, and foster enthusiasm among ACS teachers and staff. Grants can be used to invest in new and innovative curricular units, explore creative ways to enhance the students’ learning experience, or pursue extraordinary professional development opportunities for teachers or staff that align with the school’s mission.

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Robotics Team

Sponsorships

The Avery Coonley School is an IRS approved 501c3 tax-exempt organization. Our Federal Tax Identification Number (EIN) is 36-2171680. All gifts are gratefully received and are acknowledged with a letter and receipt for your tax records. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law.

Ways to Give

Online

Checks

Matching Gifts

Donor Advised Funds

Make a Pledge

Gifts of Stock

Gifts of stocks, bonds, or other securities support the School and may provide you with tax advantages. They may be given in the following ways:

By transferring ownership of the stock to the School
By instructing your broker to sell the stock and send proceeds to the School (by check or direct wire to the ACS account)

Please contact the Development Office for assistance with gifts of securities.

Gifts in Kind

Planned Giving

Donor Recognition

Leadership Giving Circles

The Leadership Giving Circles celebrate the generous annual support of donors to ACS. We greatly appreciate all gifts to the school and recognize donors in the giving circles below, established to honor the rich history of ACS.

Queene Ferry Coonley Circle
$50,000+

John Malach Circle
$25,000+

Elizabeth Coonley Circle
$10,000+

Jens Jensen Circle
$7,500+

Waldron Faulkner Circle
$5,000+

Henry Chapman Mercer Circle
$2,500+

Lucia Burton Morse Circle
$1,000+

Maple Tappers Circle
$500+

Bell Ringers Circle
$250+

Cloister Circle
Up to $249

The 1906 Legacy Circles

The 1906 Legacy Circles celebrate those extraordinary donors who have given a gift to ACS for four or more consecutive years. Named in honor of the year our school was founded, the 1906 Legacy Circles recognize donors through three levels of giving milestones, each named for a setting in our school’s rich history.

The longer you give, the greater your impact and legacy!

Maple Grove Circle

15+ Years of Consecutive Giving

The Maple Grove Circle celebrates donors who give for 15 or more consecutive years. Adjacent to the Maple Grove Forest Preserve, Mrs. Coonley chose the school's current location to create an open, comfortable learning environment that is in harmony with its natural setting. With its opening in 1929, the school was renamed The Avery Coonley School.

Coonley Playhouse Circle

9-14 Years of Consecutive Giving

The Coonley Playhouse Circle celebrates donors who give for 9 to 14 consecutive years. The now-famous Coonley Playhouse was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1912 to accommodate the growth of The Cottage School.

Riverside Circle

4-8 Years of Consecutive Giving

The Riverside Circle celebrates donors who give for 4 to 8 consecutive years. Riverside, Illinois was home to the school’s first setting, known then as The Cottage School. Queene Ferry Coonley founded the school in 1906 on her estate as she sought to expand educational opportunities for her four-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.

Annual Reports

Shilpa Rupani ’99

“My time at Avery Coonley was so formative to my youth. I continue to give back each year to help enhance the experiences of current students to ensure their time is as formative as mine was.”