The Tacoma Community College Foundation is undertaking the most ambitious fundraising effort in the college’s 40-year history. This month the TCC Foundation enters the public phase of its capital and endowment campaign, having already raised more than $6 million during the quiet phase.

The Invest In Your Future campaign is focused around three goals: enhancing access to higher education, strengthening academic programs and funding capital improvements.

“Only 56 percent of TCC’s $28.1 million operating budget came from state funds in 2004-2005,” said Ms. Mel Zanjani, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director for the TCC Foundation. “While more than 60 percent of Washington’s college students attend community colleges, two-year colleges receive less that 40 percent of the money allocated by the state of Washington for public higher education. Moreover, less than one percent of all the charitable dollars received by colleges throughout the country each year goes to community colleges.

“Education changes the lives of the student, their families and friends – and overall transformation of our entire community,” Zanjani added.

Through the Invest In Your Future campaign, TCC aims to raise funds for nine campaign initiatives: student scholarships and grants; study abroad; employee leadership development; equipment for health care training programs; a Center for Ethical Development; construction of a new TCC Children’s Center; Learning Resource Center improvements; an Information Commons (open computer lab); and various campus beautification projects, including a Japanese Garden.

Funds raised through the Invest In Your Future campaign will be administered by the TCC Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that accepts and administers private gifts on behalf of the college. Gifts to the TCC Foundation benefit college programs and activities not funded through state operating and capital budgets.