In tough times, private schools take innovative approaches to fundraising

For the first time this year, the school will hold 12 individual parties, most of them hosted by parents at their homes. Each will focus on a different activity, such as learning to play mah-jongg, making the perfect pie crust, arranging flowers, tasting at the Rosenthal Winery in Malibu and privately touring the Autry Museum.

The proceeds from these parties will also be used for financial aid, said Lach Reed, Windward's director of institutional advancement. "The school community," Reed said, "recognizes the need to support our efforts. There's a philosophical commitment to what the school stands for, and financial aid is a part of that."

A growing practice at many schools is to solicit direct donations to cover student tuition. Loyola, for example, has more than 200 scholarships that are permanently endowed, adding nearly 20 just in the last year, Goethals said.

Orange County's Sage Hill School created a scholarship program with the Tiger Woods Foundation that provides $100,000 ($25,000 annually for four years of tuition) for a needy student. Tuition at the campus this year is $27,000.

"The core of our foundation is to provide educational support for disadvantaged kids and give them an opportunity at a high caliber education," said foundation President Greg McLaughlin. "Especially now, support for financial aid scholarships is very important for most private schools."

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carla.rivera@latimes.com