Each year, AFP honors individuals who, through their hard work and dedication, have enhanced philanthropy in their communities and the world.  The Outstanding Fundraising Executive award spotlights those fundraisers who have done just this.

Tom Dewar represents the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) as its Executive Director of Development. In addition to being the primary point person for corporation and foundation relations (CFR), he also leads the resource generation activities for the College of Engineering and Applied Science, UCCS Cybersecurity, and the campuses Veteran and Military Affairs operation. Recent capital efforts include the Kevin W. O’Neil Cybersecurity Education and Research Center, which welcomed its first students just last month, as well as the Anschutz Engineering Center for which a groundbreaking event was held a few weeks ago.

Before joining UCCS in 2014, Dewar was a member of the Junior Achievement organization for nearly 30 years. Initially leading field offices in three states, he moved to its Colorado Springs-based headquarters in 2001 where he first assumed leadership of the national development operation and then, in 2004, the international development organization. He also leads a nonprofit support effort that provides fundraising, board development, strategic planning and other forms of guidance to smaller nonprofit organizations around the world.

Tom has been married to his wife Tina for nearly 38 years and has two sons, Michael, an actor in New York City, and Cuyler, a third-year Med School student at Creighton University in Omaha. Their Wheaten Terrier rounds out the family.

“After nearly four decades in the fundraising arena, I am blessed to find new challenges and exciting opportunities that make heading to campus a true pleasure every day,” said Dewar. “This award means a great deal to me, an unexpected and humbling honor made even better when I consider my esteemed colleagues – my friends – who suggested me for consideration.”