Thank You to our Topeka Collegiate Community
Dear Topeka Collegiate Community, January 20, 2026
You did it!
You successfully completed the Endowment Initiative Match Challenge. Thanks to your generosity, we didn't just meet the $500,000 goal—we exceeded it. Together, our community raised $520,830. The anonymous donor who started this match understood the importance that this campaign could have for Topeka Collegiate, and donors like you helped this community meet the moment. Thank you to everyone who pledged to help us collectively endow more than $1 million to support this exceptional school.
This matching gift came at a pivotal moment of transition. We were beginning a massive Head of School search, and we were making huge strides in our long-term budget management initiative. We successfully navigated a sudden change in leadership, thanks in large part to the talent, dedication, and extra effort of the Leadership Team, including Michael Flax, who stepped in as Acting Head of School, along with Leilani Grey and Debra Ricks. Frankly, with so much change, it was a challenging time to ask our community to stretch for a campaign of this magnitude.
What happened next was nothing short of incredible.
I saw families, alumni, board members, employees, friends, and community partners rally together. I saw people from all of those categories stretch their comfort level and make their biggest gifts to date. You stepped up to support our mission and to ensure our students continue to have one of the best educational opportunities in the country, right here in Topeka, Kansas. Because of you, we have increased the size of our endowment by over 50%.
This result puts us on higher ground as we welcome Dr. Lauren Fitchett as our new Head of School. It signals that we are moving from a season of sustaining to a future of thriving.
During the search process, as we hosted three top-tier national candidates, we were reminded of the magic that lives under our roof. It is hard not to smile when you are in the building. As a Board member and current parent, I have been inspired by the sense of community built through this undertaking. I have seen meaningful relationships deepen, and our bond is stronger than ever because of this shared process.
Thank you for your trust and your partnership. You have cast a bold vote of confidence in our future, and we could not have done it without you.
Sincerely,
Sean Frost
President, Board of Trustees
A LOOK BACK - State of the Endowment Report Fall 2025
Topeka Collegiate State of the Endowment Report
Fall 2025
History of the Topeka Collegiate Endowment
Thanks to the foresight of the Board of Trustees, the Topeka Collegiate Endowment was established in 2001 with an initial balance of $17,786.66. From the start, the endowment was designed to provide long-term investment growth while supporting school operations. Endowment funds are assets that provide support for the school in perpetuity, and investment returns are intended to preserve the real purchasing power of the principal by achieving long-term returns that match or exceed the spending rate plus inflation.
Since its founding, the Board has expanded the endowment through a general fund and several named funds established by generous donors. In 2022, the school partnered with Clayton Wealth Partners to ensure strong fiduciary oversight and sustainable growth. Today, the combined endowment stands just under $1.8 million, with a goal of $5 million to secure the future of our students and programs.
Fund Designations
The endowment includes both general and named funds, each supporting essential areas of the school’s mission:
• School Endowment Fund (est. 2001) supports operations, with future focus on financial assistance, innovative programs, and faculty excellence.
• Norma and Alan Hill Memorial Fund (est. 2007) honors one of the school’s early trustees and his wife, providing scholarships to make a significant difference in a child’s life. These scholarship funds have supported multiple children attending Topeka Collegiate.
• Susan Buder Horan Memorial Fund (est. 2008) was named for founder Susan Garlinghouse’s mother. This fund provides scholarships for mission-fit students with financial need and merit. These scholarship funds have supported multiple children attending Topeka Collegiate.
• Susan Horan Garlinghouse Scholarship Fund (est. 2018) supports deserving students who qualify for admission but need financial assistance, reflecting the founders’ commitment to education as a universal birthright. These scholarship funds have supported multiple children attending Topeka Collegiate.
• Swogger Scholarship Fund (est. 2023) provides two full middle school scholarships for mission-fit students with financial need and merit. This fund is fully endowed in perpetuity.
Investment
Endowment funds are invested for long-term growth and stability. The school may distribute 4% of the trailing three-year average annually, ensuring the principal grows while providing meaningful support for school priorities. Trustees view the endowment as a permanent resource to sustain excellence.
Increasing Need to Support Operations
Faculty and staff salaries account for 58% of the budget, and tuition assistance is the second-largest expense at 16%. Currently, 54% of our students receive financial aid, totaling over $410,000 annually, funded entirely from the operating budget. This model is not sustainable. Growing the endowment ensures that students find their place at Topeka Collegiate.
A Real Opportunity
Thanks to an anonymous $500,000 matching challenge, every gift and pledge to the school’s endowment funds made in 2025 will be doubled. Your contribution is an investment in the school’s future—helping students thrive, empowering teachers to excel, and expanding educational opportunities. A strong endowment ensures that we can continue to welcome all bright, motivated students to join our community and that the school continues to uphold its high standards of academic and faculty excellence.
Imagine a future where every student with financial need is fully supported. To make that vision a reality, our endowment must grow to at least $5 million. Today, it stands just under $1.8 million. Reaching this goal will allow us to provide the necessary funding each year while continuing to grow the endowment for generations to come, ensuring both student access and the strength of our programs.
We invite you to join us in shaping the future of Topeka Collegiate. Every gift, whether a one-time contribution or a multi-year pledge, will make a lasting difference. Gifts can be made online here, by pledge, or by mailing a check to: Topeka Collegiate Endowment Initiative, 2200 SW Eveningside Drive, Topeka, KS 66614
Thank you for believing in the power of education. Together, we will build a legacy of excellence that serves children for generations to come.
With gratitude and aspiration,
Sean Frost
President, Board of Trustees
Be A Part of This Opportunity
Securing Our Future
The Topeka Collegiate community has always stepped up to ensure our students learn in an innovative, secure, and inspiring environment. Thanks to your generosity, our campus has been transformed—fully funded and built to last. Now we move to building a legacy with an intentional focus on the next generation of learners.
Building a Legacy: The Power of Endowment
A strong endowment is the foundation of long-term excellence. Unlike annual giving, which supports immediate needs, an endowment is a permanent investment that provides financial stability and ensures Topeka Collegiate continues to thrive for generations. The returns from our endowment will support key priorities:
✔ Tuition Assistance
✔ Innovative Student Programs
✔ Faculty Excellence
Give Now to Topeka Collegiate's Sustain Campaign Endowment
Every gift—whether a one-time donation or a multi-year pledge (1–5 years)—makes a meaningful difference.
A Transformational Opportunity
A generous donor has issued a $500,000 matching challenge—every new gift in 2025 will be doubled, doubling your impact.
This is more than supporting a school; it’s investing in the next generation of leaders. Every gift—one-time or multi-year—makes a difference. To secure our future, we must grow our endowment from $2 million to $5 million. A robust endowment ensures that no bright, motivated student is turned away due to financial limitations. It is the ultimate “Raise the Paddle” for our school’s greatest need.
At Topeka Collegiate, we do more than educate—we ignite curiosity, foster confidence, and prepare students to lead with integrity. This is not just an investment in a school; it is an investment in the future of our children, our community, and the world.
The time is now. Every gift—whether a one-time donation or a multi-year pledge (1–5 years)—makes a meaningful difference. Thank you
Board President Runs Border to Border
Sean Frost to Run 250 Miles Across Kansas to Support Topeka Collegiate’s Endowment
In May, Topeka Collegiate parent and ultrarunner Sean Frost took on a remarkable challenge: running the entire length of Kansas—250 miles from the Nebraska border to the Oklahoma line—in support of the Endowment Fund Initiative.
From May 22–26, Sean ran through towns and trails across the state, beginning in White Cloud and ending in Coffeyville. Each day, he covered 50–66 miles, pushing his endurance to new limits in the name of access and opportunity for students.
“This run is about more than miles,” Sean said. “We have a donor offering a $500,000 match to help grow the endowment. These funds directly support families who need tuition assistance to attend Topeka Collegiate.”
An experienced ultramarathoner with over 18 long-distance races under his belt, Sean had spent months training for this five-day journey—his longest run to date. He described the effort as “time on feet,” reflecting the mental and physical dedication needed to complete such a feat.
Topeka Collegiate’s Endowment Fund Initiative ensures long-term financial sustainability and increases access to the school’s transformative education. Sean’s run brings attention—and momentum—to this vital campaign.
Make your own contribution in support of the
Endowment Fund
Questions?
Reach out to us via email at sayhello@topekacollegiate.org with any questions about the Endowment Initiative, its continued growth, or ways you can help keep the momentum going.