For the first time, Monroe Community College Foundation is ranked No. 1 in unrestricted giving among participating community colleges nationwide by the Council for Aid to Education (CAE). The ranking was published in the CAE’s 2015 Voluntary Support of Education
annual report, a primary source of information on private giving to more than 1,000 higher-education institutions in the United States.
This also marks the seventh consecutive year MCC Foundation ranked No. 1 in unrestricted giving among SUNY’s 30 community colleges. In fiscal year 2015, total support of the Foundation reached $4,468,319; nearly 20 percent ($1,583,156) of gifts were unrestricted (i.e., not restricted to a specific scholarship or project). MCC Foundation ranks second among SUNY community colleges for total support, behind Westchester Community College Foundation.
Unrestricted giving is critical to the success of MCC students because it enables the college to respond immediately to student needs and new opportunities. It’s a powerful tool that can help students needing financial assistance stay on track, while providing the seed money needed to enhance learning experiences for students through partnerships and programs. Unrestricted gifts to the MCC Foundation empower both learning and teaching at the college.
In 2015, the MCC Foundation awarded a record $1.17 million in scholarships to MCC students thanks to private philanthropists. More than 100 of the scholarships were awarded from unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund for Monroe Community College.