Chip Denton • Head of School
A Letter from Chip
Trinity’s Mission for Every Generation
Trinity’s mission shines distinctively in each of the academic stages of our students’ development—the Lower School’s small but formative first steps of rich yet unhurried learning; the Middle School’s growth in the classical skills of logic and critical thinking; the Upper School’s deepening practice integrating subjects and training students to speak and write well. Yet all the divisions strive toward the same goal of fulfilling Trinity’s educational mission. Though distinct, the three divisions are one Trinity.
Trinity’s past, present, and future generations each will differ in the questions they wrestle with and their experience of Trinity’s educational vision. Yet each in their time will have learned and grown, served by the same mission: different generations, but one Trinity.
The ONE Trinity campaign is about investing in Trinity’s education so the mission of Trinity will endure. ONE Trinity will enable us to carry out our unified mission to serve our present students and the generations to come.
As we hand off the mission from one generation to another, we are looking backwards towards the faithfulness of God in Trinity’s past and forward towards what lies ahead.
The Campaign to Advance Our Mission for Every Generation
From Feasible, to Achievable, to Sustainable
|
What does it look like to be sustainable?
|
 |
Shaping the Campus and Student Experience
|
1 Expand the Lower SchoolA new Lower School addition will allow us to serve more families seeking a Trinity education. Expanding to 700 students—up to 380 in the Lower School—will help meet growing community demand. This intentional growth will strengthen our mission, support new programs, and create lasting efficiencies that benefit all students and the broader Trinity community. |
2 Improve the CampusOur Campus Master Plan envisions one unified TK–12 campus with spaces designed for all students. Planned improvements include a new loop road, relocated Lower School entrance, better carpool flow, enhanced play areas, and improved drainage—all shaping Trinity for the future. Total Cost: $3.1M |
3 Build a TrackThe lower field is Trinity’s “front porch”—a welcoming space where families gather. A new track with surrounding gathering areas will enhance that experience, supporting school-wide events and showing our commitment to athletics as part of our mission. It also will provide a home for programs like Girls on the Run, our cross-country teams, and more. Total Cost: $1.7M |
4 Enhance Upper School ProgramsEnhancing Upper School programs in line with Trinity’s mission will benefit students now and in the future. The ONE Trinity campaign will expand engineering and computer science, fund missional trips that deepen learning, and strengthen service partnerships—broadening students’ experiences while staying rooted in our purpose. Total Cost: $1M |
Ensuring the Mission Lives On
|
5 Establish the Trinity School Fellows ProgramTrinity’s faculty carry our mission into classrooms, halls, and fields each day. The Fellows program will ensure that this continues by identifying, training, and retaining excellent, missional teachers. This campaign helps launch that essential work—securing the people who make our mission thrive. |
6 Provide for Long-Term Facilities MaintenanceSustainable schools proactively plan for the care of their aging campuses. It is time for Trinity to set aside funds for serious long-term maintenance. We will take care of our oldest building on campus by expanding and renovating the Lower School. Setting aside funds for maintenance will care for the future even as we meet current needs. Total Cost: $900,000 |
7 Reinforce Excellence in the ClassroomsThrough the Trinity Fund, every family can impact Trinity’s classrooms each year. It supports teacher development, enriches learning and extracurriculars, and helps provide tuition assistance. Every gift matters—no matter the size. This total cost reflects the Trinity Fund’s projected impact over the next three years. Total Cost: $1.8M |
8 Grow the Endowment for AccessGrowing our endowment will allow Trinity to offer financial assistance to more families. Invested to generate a return in perpetuity, the endowment supports operations, special projects, and primarily tuition assistance. Strengthening this fund is one of the best long-term strategies for ensuring Trinity’s financial sustainability. |
Faithful Stewardship
God’s Goodness Through 30 Years
Since our founding in 1995, Trinity has seen God’s provision again and again. This school that began with 39 students now welcomes over 600 each day in grades TK–12. From the start, we’ve partnered with families in Durham and Chapel Hill to offer a rich, unhurried education rooted in Christian faith.
Faith and learning come together in a distinctively Trinity way, through classical Christian teaching that invites both Christians and those of other faiths or none into a community shaped by truth, goodness, and beauty.
$20.7M Goal
Through the ONE Trinity campaign, we seek to raise $20.7 million to steward that mission faithfully into the future. With God’s help and your partnership, our work will continue to flourish.
Faithful StewardshipPartner with Us for the Next GenerationWhile traditional giving methods such as cash, check, and online payments are always welcome, non-cash gifts of marketable securities like stocks or property can be a powerful way to maximize your impact. By donating these assets, you may be eligible to receive an income tax deduction for their full fair market value while avoiding capital gains taxes. Please consult with your tax professional. For more information, contact Leah Dotson, Trinity’s Director of Advancement, at 919-402-8262 or Leah.Dotson@tsdch.org. However you choose to be involved, we are deeply grateful for your partnership and support. For those who are ready to give, please visit the link below. |
Contact Us to Learn More
“I support this campaign wholeheartedly because I believe in the transformative power of the Trinity community and its mission to nurture caring, compassionate, curious, and capable individuals guided by faith who will undoubtedly shape a better school, a better Durham, and a better world.”
Solano Barbeito
Student, Class of 2025