The Foundation provides a number of vehicles through which to support WCC students and programs.
Annual Fund
The Annual Fund for Student Success is a philanthropic initiative dedicated to enhancing the overall student experience and ensuring every learner has the resources they need to thrive. Contributions to the fund provide flexible, unrestricted support that addresses a wide range of student needs — from scholarships and emergency assistance to academic resources, career development, and wellness programs. By supporting the Student Success Fund, donors play a vital role in breaking down barriers to education, fostering student achievement, and creating a more accessible, supportive learning environment for all.
Annual Scholarships
Yearly gifts of $2,000 or more with a three-year commitment will create a named scholarship, which is renewable each year. Donors have the option of assigning criteria, such as designating a scholarship to students in a particular area of study. The Foundation holds an annual luncheon to honor donors and their scholarship recipients, providing the opportunity for donors and recipients to meet one another.
Endowed Scholarships
With gifts of $10,000 or more, donors may establish an endowment to create a permanent named scholarship. The yearly income generated from investment earnings funds annual scholarships, allowing the endowment to benefit students in perpetuity. Many individuals, organizations, and businesses have created endowments as memorials or tributes to others. The Foundation invites donors to the scholarship luncheon annually to meet scholarship recipients.
Memorials and Tributes
Many donors choose to make gifts to the Foundation in memory of a loved one, or to honor a person on the occasion of a special event such as a birthday or anniversary.
Planned Gifts
Planned giving offers an incredible opportunity to make a profound, lasting impact on the lives of future students at Washtenaw Community College. By including the WCC Foundation in your estate plans, you can ensure that your generosity continues to support the college’s mission for years to come.
Planned gifts allow you to make a significant contribution to the WCC Foundation while offering flexible options that can benefit both you and the college. These gifts are often made through a will, trust, retirement plan, or life insurance policy. The impact of these gifts is transformative, allowing you to help future generations of students achieve their educational dreams, regardless of their financial background.
Gift Vehicles and Their Impact
There are several ways you can structure a planned gift.
A bequest in your will or trust is one of the simplest and most common ways to make a planned gift. You can specify a percentage of your estate or a fixed amount to be donated to the WCC Foundation, ensuring your legacy lives on by supporting students in need.
This gift vehicle allows you to contribute assets to a trust, providing income for you or your loved ones for a set period, after which the remaining funds are directed to the WCC Foundation. It offers tax benefits and allows you to give a significant gift while retaining income.
A charitable gift annuity offers you fixed, lifetime payments in exchange for a donation. After your lifetime, the remaining funds go to the WCC Foundation, supporting scholarships, programs, and services for students.
You can designate the WCC Foundation as the beneficiary of your retirement account or life insurance policy. This is a straightforward way to make a future gift while maintaining control of your assets during your lifetime.
These planned gifts not only allow you to support WCC students in the long term, but they also offer tax advantages and potential income for you and your family.
A Transformative Impact
Your planned gift helps ensure that the WCC Foundation can continue its work to provide financial support, scholarships, and resources that empower students to succeed. Whether you are funding scholarships, creating endowments, or supporting specific programs, your gift has the power to transform lives and create educational opportunities for future generations.
When you make a planned gift, you are creating a lasting legacy that will impact the WCC community for years to come. Your contribution, big or small, helps provide the resources necessary to address the evolving needs of students and the community, ensuring that Washtenaw Community College remains a place of opportunity and growth for all.
If you would like to explore planned giving options or discuss how your contribution can make a lasting impact, please contact Nikki Borges, Chief Philanthropy Officer, at 734.973.3663 or [email protected].
Matching Gifts
It's not uncommon for companies to double or even triple the value of an employee’s charitable contribution to the WCC Foundation. If your employer matches gifts, contact your personnel office for the necessary forms.
In-Kind Gifts
Non-cash contributions are approved through the College. Prior to their acceptance, appropriate college personnel will determine whether a need exists for the particular gift.
For more information on giving to the Foundation, contact us via email at [email protected] or via phone at 734-973-3665. Or, download a giving form and mail it to:
WCC Foundation
Washtenaw Community College
4800 E Huron River Dr SC 304
Ann Arbor MI 48105-480