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I have an idea to help with the “Tuition Crisis”, but need the support of the tzibbur.There are B’H people who are looking to give tzedakah. I would like to form a tzedakah that will pool money toghther and then approach the various mosdos and ask them to identify the top 10 highest tuition balances. We will then give the mosod X amount of dollars, to help pay them down, and unbeknowning to those families, they will receive a letter with their next tuition statement that informs them that some donors have either paid some if not all of their balances. Imagine the peace of mind that family will have when they receive such a letter!!! This will all be done very discretely and left up to the administrators to decide who receives this allocation.
The donors will not know who will receive this credit as well as the recipients will not know who contributed. Other than finding someone a job, this is the next best form of Tzedakah.
This could be done on a monthly basis. I feel that instead of all the dinners out there to raise money for all the various institutions, which is also a big mitzvah, this will give some peace of mind to families who are truly struggling.
As such, I am looking for sponsors/donors who would contribute to the pool, so this can start immediately.
Please advise if the olom feels that this should be done with letters from local Rabbonim or the such.
As always yasher koach for taking the time to read this letter/request, and please feel free to comment with any advice/opinion.
The name of the Tzedakah will be called “Menuchos Hanefesh”.
Thanks again.
The only thing that this will do is cause tuition to rise.
YOSSI-
That is an excellent idea! Don’t mind Veltz meshugener- he’s just being his pessimistic self. Good luck!
Another idea that might help is as follows. If I’m not mistaken I am allowed to pay your child’s tuition and consider it tax deductible as a scholarship. Why can’t I pay someone elses tuition as a scholarship and they can pay my tuition as a scholarship.
Why can’t I pay someone elses tuition as a scholarship and they can pay my tuition as a scholarship.
Because the IRS reads Yeshiva World.
Not everybody gets to the level of deductions on their tax return that they can itemize them so they often end up taking the standard deduction. This obviously does not apply to wealthy people, but just wanted to put that out there.
Also because it’s outright geneiva in addition to geneivas da’as.
This idea is already in practice. However, the tzedaka is not c alled menuchas hanefesh, it is called the annual dinner, the chineese auction and all the other fundraising tools that are used. Yeshivos are able to give larger scholarships when they have the money available to do so. Support your local Yeshiva so that they are able to teach everyone regardless of their ability to pay.
While you can pay someone elses tuition, it is not a bonafide charity expense and you cannot take the tax deduction (it doesn’t matter if the school gives you a receipt). As an individual giving money to pay someone elses bills is not tax deductible. Even giving money to a 501c3 for the specific benefit of someone is not tax deductible. In order to get a legal tax deduction, you must relinquish any right over the use of the funds for a specific person. You are allowed to restrict the funds by broad categories for a purpose such as to the tuition fund, scholarship fund, building fund, etc.
YOSSI151- Although I do think there is a big problem with tuition, I don’t think this particular idea is a good one. Parents who are right now #25 on the list who have heard of it will just wait to be on the top ten and get it paid off. Almost everyone struggles to pay tuition. The only solution I can think of is to open a charter school geared toward frum kids- maybe starting later to allow them to attend torah classes before school or something like that.
Apushatayid is right. Fundraising money subsidizes tuition for the neediest parents, and the tuition committees try to allocate scholarships according to the level of need.
Yossi, I dont know what reality you live in. No, the 4th grade does not cost more than the 3rd, however, the expenses of the yeshiva for electricity, food, cleaning staff, insurance, teachers, rabbeim etc. do go up every year. Yes, many, many parents struggle to pay tuition, even a small percentage of the requested amount, and yes, if someone is aware of a situation by all means call the yeshiva and make a payment for them. However, contributing to the yeshiva accomplishes the same purpose, in fact, might even be better than your suggestion. If the coffers are full and salaries and bills are paid the yeshiva is in a position to reduce the tuition they charge and be more flexible with the scholarships they hand out. So, before additional tzedaka organizations are created, people should be sure to answer the phone when someone calls before the yeshiva dinner.
Here’s a solution: vote for officials who are pro school vouchers. Also schools need to lower their tuition. It’s getting out of hand
Also schools need to lower their tuition. It’s getting out of hand
Yeah, why do rebbeim’s families need to eat?
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