A multi-case study of annual giving and fund raising in Texas Gulf Coast community college consortium foundations

Community college students are being forced to delay future educational goals,due to the lack of financial support. Grants, student loans and financial aid support fromgovernment sources are in short supply. While past resources from state legislativebodies are being restricted and have been reduced to historic levels; educationalorganizations –community college foundations - have had to associate themselves withnumerous outside sources. Collaborative partnerships with business, government, andindustry have helped to relieve financial short- falls and student scholarship pressureswhile building long term and sustaining relationships.The purpose of this study was to investigate the process of annual giving withinTexas Gulf Coast Community Colleges. A framework for the study was structured insideof five different institutions in the Gulf Coast region. Additionally, this study set out to examine the overall context of annual giving and whether college foundations wereutilizing annual giving as a relationship tool for development and fundraising purposes.The research design followed an interview, case study format utilizing qualitativedata. The study had several major findings. First, all colleges adhere to inputs, processes,and outputs. Second, by analyzing each of the inputs and processes, a set of outputrelationships- were discovered. Third, all institutions have a set of functions – financial,organizational, operational, and structural – which are in alignment with inputs, processand outputs. Fourth, brand identity helps to integrate donors and thereby, builds sustainedand long-term support.Annual giving within Texas Gulf Coast community colleges has become a majorfixture as a fundraising practice. Foundations are making the most of this tool bypositioning themselves with their community and thus, reaping the benefits of donorrelationships.