U Co-op’s Annual Fund Kickoff

Nov 1

U Co-op’s Annual Fund

Dear Contact First Name,

Since arriving at U Co-op in July, I have been finding my rhythm here: greeting families in the morning, spending time in classrooms, seeing how teachers make room for children’s ideas, questions, and voices, and seeing how families step forward to help.

Right now, I am experiencing my first U Co-op Halloween. The children are busy planning, learning, negotiating, and collaborating – from the pre-k Spooky Room, to kindergarten spell and potion-making, to the fifth grade Haunted House; every classroom is buzzing with creativity and enthusiasm. The fifth graders even invited me in for a preview of their creation, welcoming me into a tradition they clearly know and love.

I am still getting to know the people, stories, and traditions that make U Co-op, U Co-op. But one thing has quickly become clear: community here is something we create together. It grows when someone welcomes a new family, offers time or expertise, cares for a shared space, or helps a child feel known and included.

I see that care in today’s families, teachers, and staff. I also see it in the traditions and relationships shaped by generations of alumni families. I look forward to meeting more of you, hearing your U Co-op stories, and learning what has kept this community meaningful to you through the years.

Together, we are caring for something that matters.

Giving to the Annual Fund is one way we continue that care.

Our Annual Fund goal is $234,000 – the highest U Co-op has ever set. It more fully reflects what it takes to provide the education we want for every child.

For the 2026–27 school year, it costs $32,809 to educate each student, and tuition is $29,770. That leaves $3,039 per child for the Annual Fund to help cover. I believe that sharing what our school needs is an important part of caring for it. Our goal gives us something meaningful to work toward together.

Tuition gets us most of the way. The Annual Fund gets every child the rest of the way.

Our Board of Trustees is taking the lead with 100% participation, and we are kicking off this year’s Annual Fund with nearly $33,000 in gifts and pledges from trustees, current families, alumni, and extended family members. What a meaningful beginning! Thank you to everyone who has already stepped forward.

The Annual Fund supports the school we already are and the everyday work that makes a U Co-op education possible.

Your gift strengthens five essential parts of the U Co-op experience:

Annual Fund gifts help U Co-op provide competitive compensation, health insurance, and professional development – including literacy training, the NWAIS Fall Educators Conference, and safety training and certification – for the remarkable educators who know, encourage, and inspire our children.

Gifts support literacy resources, teaching tools, classroom materials, our vibrant arts program, field trips, and our beloved overnight trips, helping teachers respond to students’ needs and take learning beyond our walls.

Tuition assistance helps more families experience a U Co-op education. That support also extends to EDP, childcare, our ski program, and other opportunities, so children can fully participate in school life.

Annual Fund gifts help us care for a safe, healthy, and welcoming building and address identified school-wide needs, including essential building maintenance and upkeep.

Gifts help make participation more possible through support such as childcare when families gather on campus. These investments strengthen the relationships and cooperative spirit that make U Co-op unique.

These five areas work together. Gifts support U Co-op as a whole, allowing us to direct resources toward our existing commitments and the school-wide needs that matter most.

I know how much this community already gives. You pay tuition, prepare meals, organize events, serve on committees, help in classrooms, and take care of the countless details that make this school work. I see that generosity, and I am grateful for it. Asking for a financial gift is asking you to give again, and I do so with respect for the different circumstances in every household.

Our Annual Fund runs through November 30. I hope you will join me in making a gift that is meaningful and possible for your family. The $3,039 difference helps explain the school’s need; each household will decide what it can contribute. Every gift, whatever its size, supports every student and every teacher, every day.

To our alumni families, grandparents, former staff, and friends: you have a place in this invitation, too. The school our children enjoy today carries the contributions of those who came before them. Your generosity helps another generation learn, explore, build friendships, and find their place here.

This is the kickoff of our Annual Fund. Between now and GivingTuesday on December 1, we’ll check in each Tuesday with progress updates, a note from the classroom, and a special challenge to close things out. Want to skip the asks? Give today, and we’ll take you off the reminder list (with gratitude).

Thank you for the many ways you have welcomed me and for all you do to help our children learn, grow, and belong. I am grateful to be part of this community and look forward to getting to know you better in the months and years ahead. I hope to see you at our House Party!

Together, we are caring for something that matters.

With gratitude,

Heather Moss
Head of School

P.S.: Help Us Multiply Our Impact!

If you believe in the unique community we are building here, please take a moment to pass this campaign along to your networks:

For Grandparents and Loved Ones: Forward this to the family members who love cheering on your student’s curiosity and growth.
For Young Alumni: Pass this along to graduates and alumni families who want to keep our school's traditions thriving for the next generation.

Shannon Blaisdell https://hazelfinch.com/

U Co-op’s Annual Fund Kickoff

University Cooperative School Wins Four 2026 “Best in the PNW” Awards