Fundraising at Desert Marigold School
As the only K-12 Public Waldorf school in Arizona, our goal of providing tuition-free Public Waldorf Education relies on the generosity of our immediate and extended community of supporters.
Offering an education that nurtures the whole child and is rich in fine arts, movement, humanities, and sciences cannot be done without additional financial support. As a public charter school, the state funding we receive is not enough to cover the costs to operate our school.
In order to ensure we can offer the highest-quality education to our students, we must actively fundraise in multiple ways throughout the year.
DMS has been fortunate to serve its students and community for over 25 years. Your dedication and gifts of time, money, and expertise guarantee DMS is able to continue its mission now and for years to come.
Our hope is that you’ll join our circle of giving in as many ways as you’re able. Our success depends on the collective strength of our community. Please, join us in supporting and preserving Public Waldorf Education at Desert Marigold School.
How You Can Help
Annual Sustaining Fund
State funding alone does not cover the costs required to operate Desert Marigold. We rely on donations made to the annual Sustaining Fund and request every DMS family participate in giving each year.
Class Fund Donations
Each class has an account to help reduce the cost of the big field trips that are forthcoming such as Pentathalon, Medieval Games, 8 Grade trip, and 12th grade trip (to name a few). This fund also helps the school pay for consumables such as crayons, water colors, clay, beeswax, and other items that are used up each year.
Spring Gala & Auction
Our annual Gala and Auction (returning 2024) takes place in the spring and allows our adult community to come together for an evening of dinner, drinks, and entertainment while raising much needed funds for our school. This exciting event raises money through ticket sales and both silent and live auctions.
Other Giving
In addition to supporting the school-wide fundraisers above, we encourage families to participate in fulfilling teacher classroom requests, class-specific fundraisers such as bake sales, and Parent Council’s largest community event and fundraiser, Winter Faire.
AZ Public School Tax Credit
If you hold Arizona state income tax liability, you can make an Arizona Tax Credit contribution to DMS and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit when filing your state taxes. Read more about tax credits and how these restricted funds impact our students.
Title I Alternative Eligibility Form
Help our Waldorf-inspired school secure Title 1 funding by completing the simple alternative eligibility form. Your participation provides resources for additional teachers, classroom materials, and special Waldorf programs that enhance our students' education.