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Development Priorities

The âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation is proud to support the strategic priorities and initiatives of the College and appreciates the continued partnership to help establish development priorities to provide focus and direction for the Foundation staff’s fundraising efforts. With a number of outstanding opportunities and experiences available at âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ, we work closely with the leadership of the College to help the Foundation prioritize our fundraising objectives and goals. 

We are excited to share we have successfully completed our previous development priorities and have received new priorities beginning in 2025. Included below are the current development priorities for the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation, for January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027. A 
comprehensive fundraising effort of more than $4.7 million over the next three years.

âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Pathway Endowments 

Grow the existing endowments that support the eight âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Pathways. These Pathway’s provide the structure to guide students through academic programs and serve as a community of interest for each program to create bonds between students, with faculty and staff, and with business and industry. The Pathway Endowment funds will be used to support activities and opportunities to create this community. The fundraising goal is to have each Pathway Endowment funded 
at $500,000. 

• Agriculture & Equine Pathway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Fundraising Goal: $305,000
• Business & Accounting Pathway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Fundraising Goal: $402,000
• Communication & Creative Arts Pathway . . . . . . . . . . Fundraising Goal: $305,000
• Health Sciences & Wellness Pathway . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   Fundraising Goal: Minimum Fundraising Goal Achieved
• Human & Public Services Pathway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   Fundraising Goal: $450,000
• Information Technology Pathway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fundraising Goal: $405,000
• Trades & Technical Studies Pathway . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Fundraising Goal: Minimum Fundraising Goal Achieved
• STEM Pathway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Fundraising Goal: $380,000

Supporting Low-Income Students 

âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ has done a good job of providing financial assistance based on merit and the majority of the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation Scholarships include merit-based components or are focused on student achievement. While some support focused on financial need does exist, it is not at the level of merit-based aid in either the Foundation or the College. This priority includes two sub-priorities to create more equitable funding environment for low-income students: 

1. Proof of Concept Funding for âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Accelerate – Fundraise through private gifts and grants, $600,000 to be spent over three years to test if removing financial barriers related to tuition and fees for low-income students results in increased high school graduation rates and college continuation. 
2. Support for Students Living in the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Residence Halls - âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ is fortunate to have three residence halls. We recognize that for some students the costs associated with living on campus are considerable, especially local students who may forgo this opportunity to experience college life and build lasting relationships simply because it is more affordable to live at home. The âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation is charged with growing the current scholarship fund for low-income students with validated need to help with the costs of living on campus (room and board). The fundraising goal for this priority is $1 million. 

Naming of Facilities to Support Exterior Renewal 

âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ has launched a comprehensive Exterior Renewal Plan that will eventually transform 13 of the College’s oldest buildings into more energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing facilities, while also reducing long-term maintenance costs. âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ has been successful in seeking some state and institutional support for these transformations, however, completing all 13 buildings in a timely fashion will necessitate additional financial resources. The College has asked the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation for support in seeking donors and utilizing naming tributes on buildings to generate revenue that can match state funding for the exterior renewal of buildings. The fundraising goal for this priority is $1 million - $1.5 million. 

The âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Student Experience 

As part of the College’s work around the Unlocking Opportunity initiative, âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ is purposefully structuring unique learning, engagement, and support activities to create an identifiable, unforgettable, connected and impactful experience for our degree-/credential-seeking students. While some institutional funding exists to support these operations, most of the available resources are limited in scope. While many aspects of this programming should and will be supported by the College’s operational funding, âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ is asking the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation to raise funds that could be utilized annually or through endowed funds to support certain aspects of this enhanced student experience. These opportunities include: 

1. Funding to support experiential learning opportunities for current âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ students. These funds will support experiences such as Applied Learning, Undergraduate Research, Internships, Service Learning, etc. Gift and contributions can be applied to Pathway Endowments to support this work or to the Lois Mottonen Student Experience Fund. 
2. Funding to support institutionally identified special populations of students that may experience greater barriers to post-secondary education or educational success. With an institutional focus on first-generation students, the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation is looking to provide ongoing support to for the Davis First Generation Experience. 

âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ has asked the âù´ºÔºÊÓƵ Foundation to explore donor interest to help support funds that currently exist to support these initiatives with a fundraising goal of $500,000 to $1 million for this priority.