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Community College Foundations

ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges
EdInfo 99-03

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recently conducted a national survey of community colleges to determine the prevalence of foundations established by these institutions and to identify the factors that led to the success of these foundations. The survey was distributed to 1,241 public and independent community colleges in 1997. Responses were received from 631 institutions, achieving a response rate of 51 percent. The researchers found:

88% of respondents said their college has a foundation. Of the 22% currently without a foundation, 30% said they are planning to establish one.
In fiscal year 1996, the average foundation value of responding institutions was $2.1 million. This represents an increase of 16% from the FY 1995 average of $1.8 million.
In FY 1996, community college foundations provided an average of more than $226,000 in scholarships, student and program support, facilities improvement, and other related expenditures.
Between FY 1995 and FY 1996, the median income received by responding colleges' foundations increased by 17%, from $225,000 to $262,964 (the median is presented here because a single $38 million gift to one institution skewed the average for this period).
Most frequently cited by respondents as their largest contributors were local business and industry (31%), individuals not affiliated with the institution (29%), and foundation board members (19%).

This information was reported in JC 980 464, "Community College Foundations: Funding the Community College Future," by Kent Phillippe and Ida Roxanna Eblinger. It appeared originally in Research Brief #AACC-RB-98-3, published by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). A full-text copy of this document may be obtained from ERIC Document Reproduction Services (EDRS), 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, Virginia 22153-2852; or by calling (800) 443-ERIC.

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ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges
University of California, Los Angeles
3051 Moore Hall
P.O. Box 951521
Los Angeles, CA 90095

Updated 10/10/01
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