In the first year of the California Community Colleges Scholarship campaign, three colleges reached their fundraising goals, totalling $1,645,180. Within just the first few months of the second year of the campaign, however, three additional colleges already met their goals, with 27 additional colleges having also invested funds and making significant progress toward their targets. This progress has brought the Endowment fundraising total to more than $4.7 million, with an additional $3 million in commitments pledged to the effort. In addition to the colleges that have raised some funds toward their goals, at least 32 others have launched efforts to raise money for the Endowment campaign.
 

"The Foundation for California Community Colleges congratulates those that have already met their goals and those that have made progress toward reaching their targets by June 2011," said Paul Lanning, Ed.D., President and CEO of the Foundation. "It is clear that it will take the commitment of every community college in the state to make this campaign a success, and those that have already put in motion their efforts to raise funds toward their goals are serving as an inspiration and a model for the other California Community Colleges."
 

Of the six colleges to meet their goals, Santa Rosa Junior College, Bakersfield College and College of Marin all met theirs prior to June 2009, more than two years ahead of schedule. East Los Angeles College and Coastline Community College announced they reached their goals in October, and Santa Barbara City College was the latest to meet its goal with a recent gift from an individual donor.
 

Among the colleges that are in the midst of their own campaigns to raise funds for the Endowment, a number of creative strategies are being utilized to meet the goals. 
 

El Camino College has embarked on a campaign to raise not only its match portion, but to also raise funds that will benefit other colleges throughout the state. El Camino College Foundation ED Katie Gleason has worked closely with philanthropist Melanie Lundquist to attract donors and has successfully raised $200,000 from Southern California Edison--a collaborative gift that supports five other campuses along with El Camino. Their goal is to raise a total of $1.5 million. The campaign will raise $1 million toward El Camino College’s endowment challenge goal and $500,000 toward the statewide Endowment to be allocated among additional colleges. The Lundquists, who have made major donations to education and other local causes in the past, hope to build support from local business leaders, community members, and corporations.
 

For Taft College, making the Osher fundraising challenge a priority given the many other issues it faces has been difficult, as is the case with other colleges and their foundations. With a recent change in its foundation leadership, however, Taft College is now ready to embrace its Osher challenge. "Even though we're starting late in our fundraising efforts for this challenge, we are committed to reaching our goal," said Sheri Horn-Bunk, who was recently hired as the Foundation's ED. She also notes that a key to this effort's success will be the continued support of her college's leadership. "We recently worked with the Foundation for California Community Colleges and Network of California Community College Foundations to provide an overview to our college and foundation leadership, and the presentation was very helpful in not only answering our questions about this initiative, but also securing additional buy-in from our leadership." 

 

City College of San Francisco has already met 10 percent of its Endowment fundraising goal and is working hard to raise additional funds to reach its goal of over $1.5 million. That's why the foundation's board members have made this project a priority. “We now have 100 percent engagement from our board of directors,” said Janice Gow Pettey, CAO of the Foundation of City College of San Francisco. “All of our board members see the importance of this campaign and are already in the process of securing commitments for the Endowment.”
 

Fresno City College is among the first community colleges in the state and is gearing up for its 100-year anniversary celebration in 2010. As part of this, Foundation ED Gurdeep Sihota He'Bert is planning to incorporate a fundraising element that will benefit the Endowment as well as the college’s efforts to complete a capital campaign for college improvements. “We believe there is a way to capitalize on the community’s excitement about our 100 years of providing a quality education to Central Valley residents in order to engage them in this important effort,” said Sihota He'Bert.
 

Irvine Valley College was the first to submit a gift to the Endowment and is working to ensure they won’t be the last by meeting their fundraising goal early. So far the college is about 25 percent of the way toward its goal of $336,422. Foundation Director Al Tello has engaged his college leadership and board to participate in fundraising and has made a direct appeal to several donors, which has paid off in the form of numerous gifts already contributed. 

 

These are just a few examples of the hard work taking place by California Community Colleges and their foundations. If you have a creative approach to raising your funds that you'd like to share, or for more information and resources to help you get started, please contact us.