Transforming community colleges through philanthropy: a strategic framework for institutionally related foundations

Viewed by policymakers and the public alike as a centerpiece of economic recovery
efforts, and as a means to achieve broad-based long-term social equity goals, community
colleges have ascended in recent decades. As a result, community colleges are being asked to do
more than ever — serve more students, respond to varied local economic and workforce
demands — all while a greater emphasis is placed on improving completion rates. These
expanded expectations follow a steady trend of public disinvestment in higher education.
Community colleges have increasingly turned to philanthropy to ensure growing demands do not
erode affordability. Ironically, increasing reliance on advancement offices have largely lacked a
proportionate investment in new resources, with only modest growth in staffing and budgets,
especially when compared to four-year colleges and universities.
Without substantial forthcoming investment in precious institutional resources,
community college foundations must instead become more focused, intentional and efficient to
meet growing expectations. This study examines the history of community college fundraising in
order to contextualize the cultural shift needed for philanthropy to assume a greater institutional
role. Change and management models are considered to understand the factors that affect how
organizations adapt and grow over time.
This product dissertation provides a toolkit for advancement practitioners to use to
increase efficiency and organize multiple competing demands and roles. This guide balances the
internal needs of running a foundation with the overall goal of advancing the mission of the
college. The purpose of this Guide is to provide a roadmap for community college leaders to
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elevate the role of foundations beyond fundraising alone to become change agents within the
institution.