Supporting Dawson

Fundraising Update 

Historically, our Rainbow Mountain and Colorado schools (Schools) have used their annual fundraisers to supplement operating revenue and help offset tuition costs. We appreciate and thank our communities for consistently answering the yearly call to support the Schools. Although annual fundraising is standard practice among independent schools, we want to transition to a new model to relieve the burden of fundraising from our school staff and families.

To that end, starting this school year, the Schools have eliminated the Annual Fund / Dawson Fund. The Schools will no longer ask families to contribute to these funds. 

The Foundation is fortunate to be in a strong financial position, and we want to remove the pressure, politicization, competition, and perception of special treatment that fundraising can sometimes create. To help our communities focus more fully on what matters most—education, student well-being, community, meaningful relationships, and engagement—the Foundation will directly provide each School with the funds that were traditionally raised through these annual efforts.

We hope this shift strengthens our culture and community by empowering families and staff to provide students with the best possible experience, while also ensuring our Schools remain well-supported and thriving.

We are proud of what the Alexander Dawson Foundation and our Schools have accomplished together—and we are excited about this next chapter. By streamlining how we support annual needs, we are reinforcing our mission and making space for deeper community connection, less pressure, and stronger long-term sustainability.