Community college and funder relationships: a case study

This qualitative case study focused on the relationship between a community college and
philanthropic foundation that have a decades-long relationship in the community in which they
both reside. While community colleges and funders in general regularly work together to create
change in the communities they serve, when they share a hometown, the frequency with which
they work together can be greatly increased. Sharing a hometown was found to contribute to a
myriad of complications in this relationship, as well as providing some unique opportunities to
increase their shared community impact. Better understanding this organizational relationship
can inform grant work between these organizations and others like them; help ensure that
investments are done wisely; and ensure that the goals these organizations share for community
change effectively achieved.
The goal of this study was to support community colleges and funders in maximizing the
return on their joint community grant investments by illuminating practices contribute to success.
This study included a broad analysis of documents and communications central to this
relationship and in-depth interviews with staff of both organizations whose professional
positions included responsibility for the grant work between the organizations. Four major
themes emerged that were important to the larger organizational relationship over time: (1) the
importance of individual relationships between staff at the organizations; (2) the unique nature of
the community college as a fund grantee; (3) the impact of unseen and unstated organizational
factors; and (4) the level of intent placed on defining the relationship’s parameters in terms of
communication, transparency, trust, and mutual accountabilities.