Unrestricted funds and generous College support cover operating and fund-raising expenses, thereby ensuring supporters that their donations and all earned income from endowments are used exclusively for the intended purpose. Community colleges have a long way to go for parity among other colleges and universities. State funding is also less to community colleges than to the public schools or the university system. If we are to continue our vital mission of providing over half of America's college students with financial, academic and geographic access to higher education, we must provide a more secure and predictable financial base. One way to ensure continuance of vital programs and services for special populations such as the academically gifted, the physically disabled, educationally and economically disadvantaged and others not served by traditional institutions of higher learning is through an endowment.
Endowments provide predictable sources of revenue to fund student scholarships.
Unrestricted endowments also enable us to respond quickly to the changing needs of our community. They provide instructional equipment and facility enhancement, support improvements in student learning, offer incentives for the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and provide continued college-community partnerships that enhance the workplace and workforce as well as improve the quality of life for our district. All Foundation funds are invested with the State Board of Administration to achieve interest income. The work of the Foundation is guided by a strategic plan. This plan defines the Foundation as essentially seeking endowments and other comprehensive giving programs to assure continued and future income to meet the needs of our students and college programs.