April 7, 2008
Santa Fe New Mexican
SFCC: With phase one complete, focus of foundation shifts
John Sena | The New MexicanWhen Santa Fe Community College reached a settlement with its former foundation board to transfer $3.5 million to the school's new GROW foundation, a couple of requirements were included.
The board of the old foundation — which college trustees thought should have been raising more money and using it differently — wanted to make sure GROW was stable and administrators would manage the money properly.
Under the deal reached in the spring of 2005, the new foundation — a nonprofit separate from the college that raises money from private donors and uses it to fund college projects — had to raise $500,000 of new money or wait three years to take over the $3.5 million.
By the end of 2007, GROW had raised more than $1 million. Most of that came from large individual donations like the $259,000 given by Aline Hoban, who wanted her contribution to go for scholarships for physically challenged students, said Michael Zavelle, executive director of the foundation.
There were some technicalities to overcome, Zavelle said, but representatives from the old and new foundations agreed in February that the school had met the conditions of the settlement, just a few months before the three-year deadline.
Now, with its $4.4 million endowment and with a period of contention behind it, GROW and its administrators are ready to put that money to use, not only for scholarships, but to advance plans for new programs and projects.
"I think now that we've put that behind us, now we can really focus on cultivating our donors," said Heidi Tilton, president of the foundation board. "We can just really move forward in engaging the community."
Part of GROW's mission is to use foundation funds for things other than scholarships, which is where most money has gone in the past, Zavelle said.
One immediate example is the school's focus on a sustainable-technology curriculum. Last fall, voters approved a $12.5 million bond issue that will partially fund construction of a new facility that will house courses focused on sustainability — or how to meet current human needs while maintaining vital ecological support systems for future generations.
The foundation will play a key role in establishing those programs, Zavelle said, because the state will not fund the start of new programs. The school must come up with start-up money until enough students enroll in the programs.
And it's those programs, Zavelle said, that donors are often more willing to support because there is a specific goal.
There are some challenges in raising money, though. One is what Zavelle said is some lingering "bitterness" from some donors over the dismantling of the old foundation.
Another challenge is competition, Tilton said. "I think we have the same challenge as every nonprofit: There are so many here in Santa Fe."
With so many choices, donors might be pickier about where their money goes.
The largest share of donations often comes from a small group of donors, Zavelle said, usually private groups with special interests. St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, for example, gave money to support nurses' training at the college, he said.
The foundation also is starting to solicit donations from students who take continuing education courses, he said. They have experienced first-hand what the college has to offer and might be willing to contribute to further those opportunities, he said.
So far, GROW is doing OK at raising money, Zavelle said, but it's not yet in the league of more established foundations or those at larger colleges or universities.
In the end, it's still the stories from students who have benefited from scholarships, whether because they're struggling financially or other reasons, that attract donors. "That's a very powerful selling point," Zavelle said, "much more powerful than saying we have one of the best art departments."
Contact John Sena at 986-3079 or jsena@sfnewmexican.com.