WCC Foundation

Yearly gifts of $2,000 or more with a three-year commitment will create a named scholarship of your choice 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. An annual luncheon is held to honor donors and their scholarship recipients, providing the opportunity for donors and recipients to meet one another.

View Annual Scholarships

With gifts of $10,000 or more, donors may establish an endowment to create a permanent named scholarship. Only the annual interest income generated by the endowment is used for annual scholarships, allowing the fund to benefit students in perpetuity. Many individuals, organizations, and businesses have created endowments as memorials or tributes to others. Donors are invited to the annual scholarship luncheon to meet their scholarship recipients.

View Endowed Scholarships

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.

Few gifts make as much of a statement as those given to memorialize or honor someone. Not only do students benefit from the generosity of those who give, but special people are recognized and remembered for lifetimes to come; it’s a double-bonus.

Scholarships given in memory of loved ones speak volumes about the values of those we remember. And gifts given to celebrate milestones in someone’s life—a birthday, anniversary, special accomplishment – not only honor the individual, but benefit students at the college whose lives can be profoundly transformed as the recipients of such gifts.

The WCC Foundation is happy to create special certificates that can be given, in lieu of gifts, to those who are honored through a tribute gift. For more information about making a Memorial or Tribute gift, contact the WCC Foundation via email at [email protected] or via phone at 734-973-3665.

Gifts designated for the Foundation in a will, estate plan, life insurance policy, or other vehicle will guarantee support for the future. Donors of planned gifts are included in the Foundation’s Legacy Circle.

Many of us ponder the idea of immortality, but know it’s not a reality. Though we think of how our loved ones—children, spouses, grandchildren—will be cared for in the future, we don’t often think about how else to extend our reach to assist others long after we’re gone.

Washtenaw Community College Foundation has established an endowment program to ensure that all students can get a college education, regardless of financial condition. We invite you to join in this effort by including the Washtenaw Community College Foundation in your will or trust.

Planned gifts and bequests from friends like you are the single greatest source of endowment funds; our financial foundation for the future.

There are many other ways to designate the Washtenaw Community College Foundation as part of your legacy. Consult your financial advisor, attorney, trust officer or the Washtenaw Community College Foundation to determine the option that is best for you and your circumstances. You’ll be surprised how simple it can be to make the ultimate gift.

View our Legacy Circle Members.

It is common 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 its personnel office to obtain the necessary forms.

Non-cash contributions are approved through the College. Prior to their acceptance, appropriate college personnel are contacted to ascertain whether a need exists for such a 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

The Student Emergency Fund was established in 2017. The WCC Foundation administers the fund, which helps students meet unanticipated expenses, especially those that jeopardize their ability to stay in school.

Since its founding, the Student Emergency Fund has provided more than $140,000 in emergency grants to eligible students.

Gifts, donations, and grants from friends, companies, and foundations who share in our critical mission provide support for the fund.

The Foundation is committed to providing students with one-time emergency assistance to help them overcome unexpected financial emergencies and remain in school for the semester or perhaps to the completion of their degrees or certificate.

This greatly improves their chances of securing higher-paying employment, gaining confidence, and achieving greater things in their lives.

Bhushan Kulkarni, Chair
Holly Heaviland, , Ed.D., Secretary & Vice-Chair
Patti Judson, Treasurer
Rose B. Bellanca, Ed.D.
Bill Milliken, WCC Board of Trustee Liaison
Tina Kashat Casoli, Associate Vice President, College Advancement

Dante Boutell
Cindy Byrne
Amy Cell
Richard Chang
Todd Clark
Michelle Crumm
Rebecca DeVooght
Michael Kipley
Marie Klopf
Meredith Miller
David Peabody, J.D.
David Sarns
Kevin Van Kannel
Walter “Mac” Whitehouse
Wendy Woods

Robert Aldrich
Susan Allison
Michael Anderson
Karen Andrews
Ann Annis
Catherine S. Arcure
Frederick M. Arnold*
Gail Bauer
Thomas H. Blaske
Seth Bonder*
Robert Boonin
William Bott
James H. Bradley*
Joni Bradley
Robert Brewster
William Broucek
Curtis Brown
Jamie Buhr
Jim Butcko
Letitia Byrd
Jean Campbell
Jeff Carter
Stefani Carter
Robert Chapman
Donald S. Chisholm
Bruce D. Clyde
John Corey
Tim Cornelius
Karl Couyoumjian
Florence R. Crane*
George Cress*
Stephen Davis
William J. Davis, Jr.
Monique Deschaine
Jo Devine
Rick DeVries
Molly Dobson
Richard Dorner
Willie M. Edwards*
Christine Euritt
Thomas Fegan*
Calla Fette
Michael Finney
Robert Forman
Terry Foster
Douglas D. Freeth
David A. French
Michael Galea
Steven Gay
Kristin Good
George D. Goodman
Gene Graber*
Lawrence A. Grace
René Greff  
Kathleen Griffiths
William S. Hann
Douglas Harris*
Marcia Harrison
Norman Herbert
Martha Hicks
Walter W. Hill
John Hinkley
Carole Holmes
Howard Holmes*
Wendy B. Holmes
Toni Hoover
Pamela J. Horiszny
James R. Irwin
Carey Jernigan
Michael W. Kabat
Sabrina Keeley
Robert Kerschbaum*
Ann Kettles
William D. Kinley
Ben Koerber
Harry Konschuh*
Tom Lamb
Henry S. Landau*
Richard Landau
Wendy Lawson
Gerri Lewis
Cristy Lindemann
Richard Lupkes
John Lynch*
Wendell Lyons*
Judy Macklem
Nancy Margolis
Jack McCarley
Bettye McDonald
Frederick McDonald II
Edward J. McEachern
Thomas McMullen
Robert McNaughton
Larry McPherson
Barbara Meadows
Ted Meadows
Polly R. Miller
Alex Milshteyn
Sonal Mithani
Tangy Napier
Tim Norton
Marguerite Oliver*
Joe O’Neal
David Parsigian
James Pate
Jeffrey Patton
James Peggs
Betsy Petoskey
John Petz
Susan Pollay
John Powers
Anthony J. Procassini
Michael Rein
Thomas Richardson
Lawrie Riegle
Al Robinson
Benjamin Rodgers
Toni Rodgers
Judy Dow Rumelhart
David E. Rutledge
Norma Sarns
Gary Sasaki
Ted Schork
Paul Schutt
Joseph M. Sesi
David Sharp*
Rich Sheridan
David Shier
Anthony Snoddy
Betty Springfield
Candis Stern
Margaret Talburtt
Ann Telfer
Gloria Thomas
Maria Thompson
Robert P. Tiplady II
Dr. Harry Towsley*
Amherst H. Turner
Bill Upton
Laurie Wadhams
Dwight Walls
Susan S. Westerman
Stuart White
Larry Whitworth
Carole Woods
Lynn Wooten
Kathleen M. Wright
Joseph Yomtoob
 
*deceased

Each year, the WCC Foundation typically has discretionary income that the Foundation Board of Directors makes available to support faculty and staff activities that benefit students. Applications are reviewed by a committee comprised of Foundation Board members and community volunteers.

When is the Deadline?

May 1 each year

What do the General Foundation Grants fund?

These grants are intended to fund WCC projects or activities that directly benefit students. Activities that would not be eligible include, but are not limited to, funds for individual research projects, personal travel or other expenses, or payment for time spent on a project.

What is the approximate size of grants and how many are made each year?

The Foundation has awarded over $500,000 in grant funds since this competitive program was launched in 1998. These grants vary in size from $500–$10,000, and there have been anywhere from 8 to 25 recipients in a given year. There tends to be a lot of competition so proposals must be professional, compelling, well-reasoned, clear and concise.

Special attention should be paid to identifying clear goals and objectives and discussing methods of evaluating whether or not they are achieved. It is also important to demonstrate why funding is not available from the college budget.

How do I apply?

Download and submit the General Grant Application (PDF) either via campus mail or in person to the WCC Foundation (SC 304) before 5 p.m. on May 1. Signatures of Deans and Department Chairs are needed, so please allow sufficient time for them to approve and sign the application.

The H. Richard Crane Science Lab endowment was established to build the capacity of science education within the departments of Life Sciences and Physical Sciences at Washtenaw Community College. Grants will be given for innovation in instruction, specifically lab instruction, including hands-on resources and both in class and supplementary access to resources. The endowment will make a total of $5,000 in awards each year, initially. There are two deadlines each year: July 15 and November 15. Download and submit the Crane Grant Application (PDF).

The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) awards grants that make a powerful and positive difference to our community. They have multiple grant cycles each year with varying deadlines. Grants range from $500-$10,000.

They make grants through funding programs that improve the quality of life in Washtenaw County. Focus areas include: Community Grantmaking, capacity building, racial equity & social justice, the African American community, seniors, youth, arts & culture, AAPS education, young Black men, and the Ypsilanti community. AAACF also awards scholarships, including the Morse B. Barker Memorial Scholarship specifically for WCC students.

For more information visit the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.

The Grants Office within the WCC Foundation is here to assist WCC faculty and staff in securing external funding to support projects and initiatives of the college.

How do we help?

• Researching potential funders and funding opportunities
• Evaluating the ‘fundability’ of projects/initiatives
• Assisting in budget development
• Writing proposals/letters of inquiry
• Helping develop partnerships with outside organizations
• Preparing follow-up grant reports

What is the process?

It is best to allow six months or even a year for the grant planning, development, and submission process to be completed. Why?

• Sometimes funders only make grants a few times each year; and some only once. Planning far ahead for a project will guarantee that you won’t be thrown off if you have to wait a year for the funding decision to be made.
• Allowing plenty of lead time ensures that there will be enough time to effectively research potential funders, build relationships with a funder if appropriate, recruit project partners if collaborations are required, and gather the information necessary to make an effective case.

Before discussing a project idea with the Foundation, please complete a Pre-Proposal Project Summary and have it signed by your Department Chair and Dean. Completing the form will provide the Foundation details that are needed to determine if your project meets basic program guidelines. Please contact Amanda Peters at [email protected] or (734) 677-5032 if you have questions about completing the Pre-Proposal Project Summary.