Parent Giving Overview

Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) is a donation-dependent public charter school. No student is offered or denied admission based upon financial capacity. Through a public-private partnership, the State of California provides funding for the academic instructional program offered at OCSA. However, the school must privately raise approximately $10 million to fund the arts conservatory programs each year. OCSA relies solely on generous contributions from families, alumni, foundations, members of the community, and corporate sponsors to help reach this goal.

All families are required to complete the Conservatory Funding Agreement (CFA) form once per school year as a part of the annual enrollment process. 

The collective CFA pledges from all of our families determine the annual budget for each conservatory. Any pledge or donations you make will be allocated directly to your child’s individual conservatory budget. Your donation specifically pays for salaries for your child’s conservatory director and teachers, facilities, equipment and supplies, performance opportunities, guest artist master teachers, and field trips. All cash contributions to the school are fully tax deductible.

We recognize that each family has a unique financial situation; however, our goal is 100% participation at the highest level possible from each family. You also have the option to sell or purchase program advertising space in the school’s yearlong performance program and/or Gala program.

We also encourage all families to check for matching gift eligibility through their employer. Detailed information on how to do so can be found at the bottom of this page.

OCSA is organized as a nonprofit organization under IRS code 501(c)(3). Our tax ID number is 33-0891574. All cash donations are fully tax deductible as provided by law. Please click here to download a copy of the IRS letter.

Please contact Family Liaison Becky Parsons at 714.560.0900 ext. 5535 or becky.parsons@ocsarts.net with any questions or comments.

Complete the CFA Form

All families are required to complete the Conservatory Funding Agreement (CFA) form once per school year as a part of the annual enrollment process.

To make a direct, tax-deductible cash contribution to your child’s conservatory for the 2023-2024 school year, please visit www.ocsarts.net/ParentPledge or click the button below to complete the CFA form. You can select automatic payments or email invoicing for any of the available payment plans: one-time donation, quarterly installments, monthly installments, or your own customized installment schedule.

Deadline to Complete the CFA Form: June 12, 2023

If you have already completed your CFA using the form linked above and are looking to submit payment for an existing pledge, please click the button below. 

Please note: This page is for pledge payments and should be used only after you have completed and submitted your CFA. You will need to complete a one-time registration to validate your email. Your email will become your login.

Pay your CFA pledge by clicking the button below.

Program Advertising

Each year, OCSA offers families the opportunity to sell or purchase program advertising space in the school's yearlong performance program and/or Gala program. With visibility to all OCSA families and the broader Southern California community, this advertising opportunity is great marketing and exposure for any business, large or small! Prices range from $200 to $7,000, depending upon ad size, color, and location.

Yearlong Performance Program Ad Submission Deadline: August 21, 2023

Gala Program Ad Submission Deadline: February 16, 2024

Please refer to the ad form linked below for more information on program advertising, including detailed requirements and a list of ad sizes and costs.

Families interested in selling advertising space are welcome to use the letter linked below! Give this letter, along with the ad form, to anyone you know who may be interested in purchasing an ad to support OCSA.

How To Submit Your Ad Form & Artwork

  1. FORM: Email the completed ad form (linked above) with payment info to becky.parsons@ocsarts.net or fax the completed ad form with payment info to 714.664.0463.

  2. ARTWORK: Refer to the artwork submission details on the ad form. Click the link below and follow the directions to upload your artwork.

For questions regarding advertising opportunities, please contact Family Liaison Becky Parsons at becky.parsons@ocsarts.net or 714.560.0900 ext. 5535. For questions regarding artwork submission, please contact Anel Cantu at anel.cantu@ocsarts.net or 714.560.0900 ext. 5635.

Company Gift Matching Program

Leverage Your Donation Through Matching Gifts

Do you work for a company that will match cash gifts made by an employee to a certified nonprofit organization?

If you or your spouse work for or have retired from a company that has an employee gift matching program, you may be able to DOUBLE or even triple your cash gift to OCSA.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Click the button below to see if your employer matches gifts.

  2. Obtain a matching gift form from your company’s Human Resources or Payroll Office (this may be an online form or a paper form).

  3. If your matching request is not submitted electronically, please be sure to forward a copy of your completed form to Becky Parsons at becky.parsons@ocsarts.net

  4. Make your donation online or mail your matching gift form and accompanying check to the address below:

Business Office
Orange County School of the Arts
1010 N. Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701

If you have questions, please contact Family Liaison Becky Parsons at becky.parsons@ocsarts.net or 714.560.0900 ext. 5535.

Company Gift Matching Lookup

To see if your employer matches gifts, click the link below and enter your employer's name in the search box.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do these arts conservatory contributions include performance opportunities?

Yes. Each conservatory director will determine their performance/event calendar for the 2023-2024 school year based upon the budget available from parent pledges made through the CFA form. Additional performance fees may be requested for specific performance opportunities.

How do I solicit funds from corporations or foundations?

Please contact Anna Belmer Jackson, Director of Development, at anna.jackson@ocsarts.net or 714.560.0900 ext. 3235 to find out more about our corporate sponsorship program.

Are there consequences for conservatories with low CFA funding?

Yes. If there are conservatories with low parent pledges/donations, those conservatories may have a modified or reduced program, including fewer performance opportunities and/or decreased instructional days. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation at the highest level possible for your family.

What does the arts conservatory funding pay for?

OCSA will receive funding from the State of California for the academic instructional program, however, the arts conservatory programs are funded exclusively by donations. The school needs to raise approximately $10 million through parent participation and the work of the OCSA Foundation to pay for 100% of the arts conservatory instructional expenses.

Can I donate using my employer’s matching gift program?

Yes. Many corporations offer a matching gift program. For each dollar donated to the school, your employer may match your donation. Additional information can be found above.

If I cannot donate the full requested amount, are there other ways to contribute to my child's conservatory?

Yes. We recognize that each family has a unique financial situation; however, we encourage you to contribute through the CFA form at the highest level possible. If you are not able to donate the full requested amount for your child’s conservatory, you have the opportunity to sell or purchase program advertising space in the school’s performance programs and/or Gala program.

What is the OCSA Foundation?

Philanthropy plays a key role in OCSA’s ability to provide this transformative arts and academic experience. OCSA is not a private school; as a public charter school, it is donation dependent. OCSA serves a diverse student body and is accessible to all students, regardless of their family’s ability or willingness to contribute. 

The nonprofit OCSA Foundation helps raise approximately $2 million annually in private contributions from individuals, businesses, corporations, and foundations to support the following areas:

  • State-of-the-art facilities

  • Support students in need who qualify for the federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program (FRLP) through the Artist Scholar Sponsorship Program

  • Provide funding to recruit industry professionals for the Master Artist Series

  • Create enriching opportunities and provide necessary equipment and supplies above and beyond the conservatory budgets

  • Provide accessible community arts engagement programming

The OCSA Foundation is not designed to single-handedly fund the day-to-day operations of the school, but rather to partner with parents to provide additional financial support and enrichment opportunities to benefit all students.