Rufus Cutler Dawes (July 30, 1867 – January 8, 1940) was an American businessman in oil and banking from a prominent Ohio family.

He served as president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and from 1934-1940, as head of the World's Fair organization and the Museum of Science & Industry (MSI).

He became involved in public service in 1918, when he was appointed to serve on the Illinois State Pension Laws Commission (1918–1919).

From 1934 until his death, Dawes was concurrently president of the World's Fair organization and the Museum of Science & Industry (MSI).

Previously, he had been an active member of the Board of Trustees, helping to brief Waldemar Kaempffert when the latter became the first Executive Director of the Museum of Science & Industry in 1928.