Support

How to Give Back to MAC

At MAC, we are fortunate to have such a devoted, philanthropic community of parents, grandparents, friends, and local partnerships. Thank you for choosing to be part of this community by giving to MAC today. Your generosity will ensure that our students receive the highest-quality Montessori educational experience and that MAC's legacy will continue for many years to come.

We invite parents and grandparents to support the school through gifts of time, treasure, and talent. Whether you volunteer, make monetary contributions, or share your expertise, your involvement is essential to our children's education and is part of MAC's magic.

Other Ways to Give Back

Parent Ambassador Fund

Upon completing enrollment forms, families have the option to contribute to the Parent Ambassador Fund. Classroom Parent Ambassadors use these funds for teacher gifts (birthdays and appreciation weeks).

Donate Tickets for MAC for Teachers & Staff

If you are a season ticket holder to one of our local sports teams or event centers, donated tickets will go to the school for a teachers-only drawing.

Upper School Classroom Fundraising

Each year, the 6th-grade students visit Washington, D.C. to explore our nation’s capital. To fundraise, they run the lobby Coffee Cart where you can purchase drinks and snacks, offer breakfast and lunch services to families, and throw an Ice Cream Social. Middle School students also raise money for their annual trip by offering bagels for breakfast and a Snack to Pack program for purchase in the afternoons. All proceeds from these programs go to the students’ trips.

MAKE A GIFT NOW

Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit

All direct donations to MAC are tax-deductible and help us reach our annual campaign goal. As an added bonus, gifts to MAC qualify for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Credit–more than a 50% tax credit for Colorado taxpayers! For many taxpayers*, this tax credit looks like this:

MAC's giving circles are tiers that range from $1 to upwards of $10,000. Any donation to MAC is appreciated!

Levels of donations or "giving circles" graphic.

Giving FAQs

How does giving work at MAC?

MAC plays a significant role in the lives of our families. Like all independent schools, MAC relies on family support—time, treasure, and talent—to provide exceptional student experiences. Participation is the most critical aspect of annual giving as it shows strength in our school community.

Each year, the Annual Campaign kicks off in the fall. MAC looks to our Board members, current parents, and past parents for these essential tax-deductible gifts. The collected funds then support specific strategic needs to improve and stabilize our school.

Each spring, MAC will host its annual Gala where proceeds purchase materials, equipment, and supplies that directly benefit our students. Occasionally, MAC will have specific campaigns, such as the capital campaign that finished last year. The generosity of our community allowed us to complete the playground and invest in art and music equipment.

What will I be asked for and when?

Thank you, first and foremost, for your support! You will be asked to make a pledge to the Powering Potential Annual Fund in the fall; please remember that whether you give $5 or $50,000, the most important thing is that everyone gives something. You can make a pledge in the fall (we ask for all pledges to be made by December 31st) and pay it in installments or make a single payment by May 31st. One great option that makes your dollar stretch further is to pledge early, then pay your pledge on Colorado Gives Day in early December.

With regard to the gala, we have benefited greatly from family volunteers organizing this event. If you would like to get involved, please let us know! Most of our items come from a variety of Denver businesses, but families sometimes enjoy donating goods as well. We want you to join us for this not-to-miss night of MAC community and camaraderie!

Where do my tuition dollars go?

At MAC, tuition is the revenue that our school must charge per student in order to offset the expenses necessary to run our school. While many established independent schools have endowments, investments, and large gifts that offset the cost of tuition, MAC is a young school that relies solely on tuition and fees for teacher salaries and benefits, Montessori materials, building mortgage and expenses, and state licensing requirements.

MAC hires more teachers than other independent schools without early childhood programs to maintain outstanding student teacher ratios. Thus, our payroll is the largest percentage of our budget. We are thankful to have such a large and incredible staff at MAC.

Why does MAC ask for philanthropic support in addition to tuition?

This is a great question! While tuition enables us to meet our basic costs, we use giving to go above and beyond, like making MAC an amazing place for our teachers. By using fundraising to meet specific strategic goals, everyone benefits as families give what they can and get tax benefits for doing so. One incredible incentive is that every gift to MAC is eligible for the Colorado State Childcare Tax Credit, a 50% credit on your state taxes. Depending on your tax bracket, each dollar you give to MAC can cost you as little as 30 cents. Talk to your tax advisor for more information, but know that this is a significant advantage over just increasing tuition.

How are charitable contributions allocated and reported to donors?

Is there a way to maximize my gift?

How can I ask questions or find out more?

What are the ways I can give?

Gifts by Credit Card

We accept all major credit cards. You may donate online by clicking on Give Now at the top of he page.

Gifts of Cash

Cash donations are the most common form of support given to MAC. Please make checks payable to MAC with “Donation” in the memo line and send to: Montessori Academy of Colorado, 2500 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80205

Stocks or Securities

A gift of stocks or securities is eligible for charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the gift without capital gains tax on appreciated stock. Please notify T.J. Layne (tjl@tmaoc.com) of your intent to make a transfer of stock or securities.

Corporate Matching Gifts

Many corporations offer matching gift programs for employees and their families. A matching gift can often double or triple your gift, and all matching support is also credited to you. Contact your human resource office for a matching gift form. When completed, mail it to the Development Office at the above address with your gift.

MAC continues to grow and thrive because of support from our dedicated and caring school community. We thank you for all that you do to nurture the potential of MAC students!