The Big Give 2023/2024

Making a Difference—Together


Here at Fort Collins Montessori School (FCMS), our community of educators, parents, and young people have embarked on a charter project of bringing learning to students in a different way. This project is exciting and worthwhile, but being a charter also means that FCMS does not receive all of the same funding as a traditional PSD school. As such, it is up to us to raise additional resources from our families and our community to help support our students. The annual Big Give is the biggest single way that we FCMS families can help shape what our campus can provide and what our students can access. 


Since the start of the Big Give, thanks to the support of FCMS families and friends, we raised over $126,000!! During the 2022/2023 Big Give, over 90% of our families were able to contribute in ways both big and small, and we also saw support from a number of small businesses in the community. To our founders, families, guides and staff, friends, alumni, board members, and supporters past and present—thank you all!

Donate to The Big Give

What your previous Big Gives have accomplished


Over the years, here are just a few of the few ways we, as a community of givers, have made a difference—together. We have...


  • Completed the entire build-out of our beautiful, sun-lit building and campus. (If you are a newer family like mine, you might not know that FCMS was not always located here. It has been through your support the move was made!)
  • Installed a wonderful playground where the children can get fresh air and get rid of some of their “wiggles” every day!
  • Offered discounted tuition for pre-school families during the pandemic.
  • Retained staff and offered competitive salaries to all our guides and staff during the challenging 2020/21 school year.
  • Distributed Chromebooks to children enrolled in online learning so they could access class meetings and complete lessons.
  • Provided additional trainings and certifications for our growing Montessori faculty.
  • And most recently, of course, it is hard to miss the amazing progress on our multi-purpose space that will be enjoyed by all for years to come!

What the 2023/2024 Big Give will do for your students


The Big Give is the biggest annual fundraiser for FCMS. This year, the vision for the Big Give is all about bringing our Montessori life into our brand-new multi-purpose space and continuing to provide amazing in-class resources for our students!


Many of us have formative memories about gathering in our schools as a community, whether it was for music, laughter, physical activities, or group discussion. Thanks to you, we succeeded in raising the funds for our beautiful new building and now, with the 2023/2024 Big Give, we will bring an enriched classroom experience for our students to  increase each classroom's budget for supplies, books, and other materials; to continue to grow our staff through the Montessori teacher training sponsorship program; and to hire another teaching assistant.

The Value of FCMS


As a public charter school, FCMS does not receive the same funding as other PSD schools. A private Montessori education can run into the thousands with some costing as much as $28,000 dollars a year. The Fort Collins Montessori School project is different. FCMS continues to offer tuition-free Montessori K-6 education and to expand these opportunities to more children whenever possible. The funds we provide continue to enable the growth of both our beautiful campus and our robust staff of Montessori-trained guides. The generosity of our community is what allows us to pursue our founders’ visions of a learning atmosphere in which children discover their intrinsic motivation and self-direction, tap into their enthusiasm about the world, become responsible members of their communities, and grow into committed lifelong learners.


The Big Goal


To raise 45K to outfit our new space and fully support classroom budgets & To have 100% FCMS family participation in giving, be it big or small




Giving is Easy!


With a suggested donation of $200 per student, you can help us easily reach our goal of $45,000. However, our goal of 100% family participation also means that your contribution, no matter the size, directly helps achieve our goals. Any contribution, whether less or more than the suggested amount, shows your care for this community.

Importantly, in addition to directly helping your children, our gifts also demonstrate our strong support for our school community to outside financers, as well as prospective staff and guides.


This year, The Big Give week is scheduled to start on Saturday, October 14th and will end with a schoolwide celebratory picnic on the last day of school, Thursday, May 30th, 2024.  Click the button above or visit https://www.givesignup.com/fcmsbiggive.



Thank You!!


Fort Collins Montessori School is committed to supporting the development of individuals in our community through care, courage, support, and access to resources. This learning environment is preparing tomorrow’s leaders and it takes an all-in community to make it happen. Thank you for being that community. Thank you for taking the time to consider giving to FCMS and making a lasting difference in the lives of our community’s youth.


“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.”



– Dr. Maria Montessori

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