2024-25 Annual Fund Campaign

As we embark on a new journey of giving at Dawson, where Culture over Currency is the focus, I find myself repeatedly returning to a sense of awe and gratitude for all the generosity that has fueled the remarkable transformation of our campus and has sustained the well-being of our community. What I find most inspiring is that no matter a family’s means, every gift to Dawson represents a meaningful demonstration of love for the School. Each gift becomes part of a larger legacy of the Connected in Values campaign. Your philanthropy during the 2024-2025 school year demonstrates our commitment to our Core Values, enhancing access and affordability, athletics, facilities and campus safety, and faculty development. Contributions have led to improvements that align with our Mission, ensuring Dawson’s long-term sustainability as we look to the future.

Annual Report Links

By the Numbers

Donor Report

About the Annual Report

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Access & Affordability: $50,725

Dawson aims to create a learning environment reflective of the dynamic Las Vegas community, its surrounding areas, and a diverse global society. When students see themselves represented in their school, they are more likely to reach their full potential.

Tuition assistance
Support of scholarship grants and programs
- Crescere Foundation
- Windsong Trust

Teaching Kitchen: $500,000

On behalf of our entire school community, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Ruffin for their generous gift to our future Teaching Kitchen project. Your support is more than a capital contribution—it is an investment in our students’ health, learning, and lifelong wellbeing. Thanks to your commitment, we are one step closer to creating a space where students will gain hands-on culinary skills, explore nutrition and science, and discover the joy of preparing food together. Your gift will have a lasting impact on generations of students, and we are deeply grateful for your belief in our vision.

Faculty Professional Development: $2,700

Teaching & Learning: $21,000

Thank you so much to the Tagle Family for their charitable gift supporting our students’ trip to Orlando, Florida, for the International Academic Competition. Your investment in teaching and learning provided our students with an extraordinary opportunity to challenge themselves, broaden their horizons, and represent our school on a national stage. Experiences like this inspire confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning that extend far beyond the competition itself. Your support made this possible, and we are deeply grateful for the encouragement and belief you have shown in our students.

Connected in Values $135,071

As an independent, not-for-profit school, Dawson does not receive state or federal funding and relies solely on tuition, the Alexander Dawson Foundation’s bond payment, and community donations. Tuition does not cover the full cost of each student's education, meaning many families pay less than Dawson spends on their education. This leaves the school dependent on alternative funding sources, particularly the Annual Fund.

This includes:

Debt service
Depreciation expenses
Facilities and dining expenses
General, administrative, and fundraising expenses
Personnel expenses
Technology and other instructional/auxiliary expenses
Tuition assistance

Your contributions are indicative of your commitment to both preservation and innovation–as we nurture the present by honoring the past and preparing for the future. In this era of unprecedented challenges and transformational change, where the impact of climate change, artificial intelligence, and debates over inclusivity confront us with relentless force, Dawson stands uniquely poised to distinguish itself. We could not thrive in the face of adversity without the support of our amazing community.