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Alexander Dawson Foundation

EIN 22-6044616 · Las Vegas, NV

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 53 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ALEXANDER DAWSON FOUNDATION IS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY EDUCATION, NURTURE FUTURE LEADERS, PREPARE YOUNG ADULTS TO EXCEL IN COLLEGE AND SOCIETY, AND DEVELOP THE SELF-RESPECT, SELF-DISCIPLINE, AND SELF-RELIANCE OF EACH STUDENT BY STRESSING THE VALUE OF HARD WORK AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY.

Income
$53.4 million
Spending
$45.1 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
67.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
631
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$777,146, trustee, chairman & treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 67.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 53 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $17.0 million spent. THE ALEXANDER DAWSON SCHOOL IN BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO, A $68.2 MILLION FACILITY BUILT BY THE ALEXANDER DAWSON FOUNDATION IN 1970, PROVIDES CHALLENGING AND RELEVANT LEARNING TO 517 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 TO BECOME CREATIVE, RESILIENT PROBLEM-SOLVERS WHO BRING THEIR BEST TO THE WORLD.DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, THE SCHOOL PROVIDED $2,163,312 IN FINANCIAL AID TO 83 DESERVING AND TALENTED STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD A DAWSON EDUCATION. IN JUNE 2025, THE SCHOOL AWARDED DIPLOMAS TO 66 GRADUATES, WHO WERE ACCEPTED TO SUCH COLLEGES AS COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (LOS ANGELES), UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN (MADISON), AND WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY AND WERE OFFERED $8.41 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS. IN ADDITION, THE SCHOOL OWNED AND OPERATED A SUMMER CAMP, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, IN 2024-2025 THAT OFFERED INSTRUCTION IN SPORTS, ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, SPECIALTY CAMPS AND MORE FOR 2,525 BOYS AND GIRLS.
  2. $13.0 million spent. THE ALEXANDER DAWSON SCHOOL AT RAINBOW MOUNTAIN IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, A $46.1 MILLION FACILITY BUILT BY THE ALEXANDER DAWSON FOUNDATION IN 2000, PROVIDES A NURTURING LEARNING COMMUNITY FOR 581 STUDENTS IN PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH GRADE EIGHT THAT CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN MIND, BODY, AND CHARACTER. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, THE SCHOOL PROVIDED $1,643,821 IN FINANCIAL AID TO 95 DESERVING AND TALENTED STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD A DAWSON EDUCATION. IN JUNE 2025, THE SCHOOL GRADUATED 56 EIGHTH GRADERS, WHO HAVE GONE ON TO ATTEND LOCAL PUBLIC AND INDEPENDENT HIGH SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS, SUCH BOARDING SCHOOLS AS ROWLAND HALL AND THE THACHER SCHOOL.
  3. $383,564 spent. THE ALEXANDER DAWSON FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE DAWSON SUMMER INITIATIVE (COLORADO). THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A SUMMER AND A YEAR-ROUND MENTORING PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ENRICHING, INTELLECTUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH-ACHIEVING PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOLS STUDENTS AT NO COST TO THE PARTICIPANTS.DAWSON SUMMER INITIATIVE IS AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR HIGH-ACHIEVING PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS CURRENTLY IN GRADES 6 AND 7. 156 STUDENTS FROM OVER 35 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN BOULDER COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS ATTENDED 2-5 WEEKS OF INTENSIVELY COLLABORATIVE, HANDS-ON STUDY OF A PARTICULAR THEME. THE PROGRAM IS HELD AT THE COLORADO CAMPUS AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR INQUISITIVE STUDENTS TO MEET OTHER STUDENTS FROM MANY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, DELVE INTO ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT TOPICS IN THE NEWS, AND IDENTIFY REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1960.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.