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Give
Country School Donor Report 2025–2026
Thank You!
Your generosity helps make Country School an extraordinary place for learning, exploration, and growth. Our tradition of excellence endures not only because of our distinctive program and dedicated faculty and staff, but also because of a strong culture of philanthropy — rooted in generations of families and alumni who continue to support our mission.
Thank you for making Country School a philanthropic priority. Your partnership is essential as we prepare the next generation of leaders to live lives of purpose and impact.
With gratitude,
Aaron Cooper, Head of School
Holly Donaldson Casella ’04, Director of Advancement
Aaron Cooper, Head of School
Holly Donaldson Casella ’04, Director of Advancement
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Annual Fund at
Country School
Last year, the Country School community came together to make the 2025–2026 Annual Fund one of our most successful ever. Early gifts built momentum from the very start, inspiring others to participate and providing essential resources that could be put to work immediately for our students and teachers.
The Annual Fund helps bridge the $7,500 gap between tuition and the full cost of educating each student. As our most vital source of unrestricted support, it strengthens every part of the Country School experience, from exceptional teaching, financial aid, and academic programs to technology, arts, athletics, student life, and the care of our 85-acre campus.
We are especially grateful to our 89 Leadership Donors, whose generosity helped close this gap and set the pace for a record-setting year. Remarkably, 50 families chose to give at the leadership level for the first time. This inspiring show of support reflects the extraordinary strength of our community’s commitment to Country School and its students.
Thank you to every family, alum, grandparent, faculty and staff member, and friend who contributed. Your early and generous response made this extraordinary year possible and strengthens the Country School experience for every student, every day.
The Annual Fund helps bridge the $7,500 gap between tuition and the full cost of educating each student. As our most vital source of unrestricted support, it strengthens every part of the Country School experience, from exceptional teaching, financial aid, and academic programs to technology, arts, athletics, student life, and the care of our 85-acre campus.
We are especially grateful to our 89 Leadership Donors, whose generosity helped close this gap and set the pace for a record-setting year. Remarkably, 50 families chose to give at the leadership level for the first time. This inspiring show of support reflects the extraordinary strength of our community’s commitment to Country School and its students.
Thank you to every family, alum, grandparent, faculty and staff member, and friend who contributed. Your early and generous response made this extraordinary year possible and strengthens the Country School experience for every student, every day.
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This year brought exciting progress for Deep Roots, Bright Futures: Our Campaign for People, Place & Program, a $30 million investment in Country School’s future. Grounded in our mission, the campaign is strengthening our endowment, enhancing our outdoor learning spaces, and sustaining our Annual Fund.
Campaign gifts to the endowment are investing in exceptional teachers and programs, expanding access through financial aid, and helping ensure Country School’s strength for generations to come. In 2025–2026, endowment resources provided more than $5.7 million in tuition assistance. As of June 30, 2026, the endowment totaled $74 million across nearly 60 funds, 11 of which were newly established this year.
Across campus, this vision is already coming to life, from our completed playgrounds and Stevens Terrace to upgraded playing fields and plans for our woods, trails, farm, and outdoor learning center.
We are deeply grateful to our Trailblazers, a growing group that included 78 families as of June 30, 2026. Their early generosity has built tremendous momentum, and we thank every donor who will help to shape this exciting next chapter for Country School.
Campaign gifts to the endowment are investing in exceptional teachers and programs, expanding access through financial aid, and helping ensure Country School’s strength for generations to come. In 2025–2026, endowment resources provided more than $5.7 million in tuition assistance. As of June 30, 2026, the endowment totaled $74 million across nearly 60 funds, 11 of which were newly established this year.
Across campus, this vision is already coming to life, from our completed playgrounds and Stevens Terrace to upgraded playing fields and plans for our woods, trails, farm, and outdoor learning center.
We are deeply grateful to our Trailblazers, a growing group that included 78 families as of June 30, 2026. Their early generosity has built tremendous momentum, and we thank every donor who will help to shape this exciting next chapter for Country School.
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The George & Jill Stevens Horizons Scholars Fund
This year, the Stevens family established the George & Jill Stevens Horizons Scholars Fund, honoring their parents and carrying forward a vision that began more than 60 years ago.
In 1964, Head of School George Stevens and his wife, Jill, opened the Country School campus during the summer to children with limited access to academic opportunity. Their idea became Horizons, a learning community rooted in hands-on experiences, a strong sense of belonging, and a long-term commitment to every child. What began at NCCS has since grown into a national movement.
The new endowed fund builds on that legacy by providing tuition assistance for Horizons students to attend New Canaan Country School. To date, more than 30 community members have joined the Stevens Family in committing more than $315,000, extending the impact of Horizons into the full academic-year experience.
We are deeply grateful to the Stevens family for this generous investment and for their decades of leadership, service, and support of Horizons and Country School.
In 1964, Head of School George Stevens and his wife, Jill, opened the Country School campus during the summer to children with limited access to academic opportunity. Their idea became Horizons, a learning community rooted in hands-on experiences, a strong sense of belonging, and a long-term commitment to every child. What began at NCCS has since grown into a national movement.
The new endowed fund builds on that legacy by providing tuition assistance for Horizons students to attend New Canaan Country School. To date, more than 30 community members have joined the Stevens Family in committing more than $315,000, extending the impact of Horizons into the full academic-year experience.
We are deeply grateful to the Stevens family for this generous investment and for their decades of leadership, service, and support of Horizons and Country School.
Other Special Endowed Funds
Learn more about other special endowed funds that honor beloved members of the Country School community and create lasting opportunities for students and teachers:
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With Gratitude
We are deeply thankful for the many ways you participate in the Country School community. Whether you are a current or past parent, alum, faculty or staff member, grandparent, or friend, your gifts of time, talent, and resources enrich our school and nurture the warm, vibrant community that defines NCCS.
Your generosity strengthens our programs and brings our mission to life. Thank you for making Country School a priority and helping our school thrive.
To view our donor lists, please use the password provided in the September 2026 email from the Advancement Office. You may also contact advancement@countryschool.net or (203) 801-5600 for the password. Then, use the links below to explore the many groups of supporters who make this work possible.
Your generosity strengthens our programs and brings our mission to life. Thank you for making Country School a priority and helping our school thrive.
To view our donor lists, please use the password provided in the September 2026 email from the Advancement Office. You may also contact advancement@countryschool.net or (203) 801-5600 for the password. Then, use the links below to explore the many groups of supporters who make this work possible.
- ANNUAL FUND & ENDOWMENT
- CONSECUTIVE-YEAR DONORS
- PARENT GIVING BY CLASS
- ALUMNI
- PARENTS OF ALUMNI
- IN HONOR OF THEIR GRANDCHILDREN
- FACULTY & STAFF
- FORMER FACULTY, STAFF & FRIENDS
- IN MEMORY
- NAMED ENDOWED FUNDS & DESIGNATED GIFTS
DISCLAIMER: This report gratefully acknowledges gifts received between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing. If you notice an error or omission, please accept our sincere apologies and contact the Advancement Office at advancement@countryschool.net or (203) 801-5600 so we can make the correction right away. Thank you for your generous support and partnership!
New Canaan Country School
Links & Resources
Accreditations
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.