As the Head of School, I am often asked why we need to engage in annual fundraising efforts, especially when families already pay tuition. It’s a great question and one that highlights the importance of understanding how private schools operate and what it takes to deliver the exceptional experience that defines Colorado Academy.
It’s an explanation that many of you may already be familiar with, but that certainly bears repeating as the costs of providing a high-quality education continue to rise. At the core of any independent school’s revenue model, including ours, is tuition. Tuition fees provide the essential foundation for the day-to-day operations of the school. These funds are critical in ensuring that we maintain our campus, provide high-quality academic resources, and, most importantly, recruit and retain outstanding faculty and staff. However, there’s a misconception that tuition alone covers the full cost of educating a student. In reality, it doesn’t.
In fact, in most independent schools, tuition typically covers 70 to 90 percent of the actual cost per student. The remaining 10 to 30 percent has to be bridged by other means. This is where annual fundraising plays an essential role.
Yesterday was our annual CA Gives Day to raise money for The CA Fund. The CA Fund supports operational costs that are not covered by tuition. It supports faculty salaries, financial aid, signature programs like Interim, athletics, and the arts….the list goes on and on. Without The CA Fund, we would not be the high-quality, innovative, forward-thinking school we are, and many of our essential programs would not be properly supported or might not exist.
It’s hard to write this, but honestly, the business models of independent schools and higher education in general make zero sense. As stated above, both educational systems historically don’t charge tuition that fully covers operations. At CA there is about a $4,000 gap per student between the cost to educate a child and tuition each year. This means everyone is on financial assistance, and CA is dependent on generous philanthropy to sustain and provide the funding necessary for our students to grow and thrive. The CA Fund reduces pressure on tuition and allows families to benefit from a tax-deductible donation.
Our goal for The CA Fund this school year is $2 million, which we will only reach through your partnership. We are grateful to our community of supporters on CA Gives Day. Next week, I will start signing hundreds of thank-you letters to parents, grandparents, family foundations, alumni, faculty, and even some students. I am touched when a young alum makes a small donation. I am even more moved when a family on financial assistance makes a gift that is within their reach. What’s so powerful about our community is that we have families who consistently understand the importance of CA in their child’s life and prioritize their philanthropic giving towards CA.
We couldn’t do this work without you. Thank you to our Advancement team, in particular Alena Howe, Director of The CA Fund. Thank you to Kevin Reidy, Board Chair, Jocelyn Ege, Development Committee Chair, our Development Committee, Board of Trustees, Alumni Board, and the many CA Fund parent volunteers whose outreach to our community makes a meaningful difference in the success of our annual campaign.
Fundraising also serves as a powerful reminder that we are a community. It’s not just about balancing the budget; it’s about everyone contributing to the shared vision of what we want our school to be. Our culture of excellence is intentional, built on exceptional experiences, a vibrant Pre-K—Grade 12 community, outstanding events, and traditions that unite. We consistently strive to improve by hiring rockstar teachers, staff, and coaches, investing in our infrastructure and programs, and helping our students realize their potential.
If you have any questions about CA philanthropic efforts, please reach out to Kate McDonnell, Director of Advancement.
Thank you so much for giving. We deeply appreciate your generosity!