The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC)
announced today a new Capacity-Building Grants program that has awarded $30,000
to six State Fund Members of CIC. State funds are fundraising associations for
independent colleges in 32 states. They are members of the Foundation for
Independent Higher Education (FIHE), which merged last month with CIC and
continues to coordinate their activities.
The grants were awarded through a
competitive grant program administered by FIHE. The state funds in Alabama,
Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri were selected for the awards,
and each will receive $5,000 grants as seed money to enhance their capacity to
raise funds, particularly for student scholarships, and to coordinate
collaborative projects on behalf of the private colleges and universities in
their states.
“These timely grants will help the
state funds leverage additional funding to meet scholarship needs and other
pressing priorities for private colleges and universities across the country,”
said Ned Moore, executive director of FIHE.
Richard Ekman, president of CIC said,
“We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to support our State Fund Members
and the very good work they do raising money on behalf of the independent
colleges and universities in their states.”
The grants will provide support for
the state funds to launch fundraising campaigns for scholarships to make a
private college education possible for students from underserved populations or
who seek a career in specific fields, offer scholarships for students from rural
areas, and provide support for lower-income and minority students, and for
military veterans returning from abroad.
The State Fund Members were selected
for the grants, and their projects, include:
Alabama
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities—will use
funding as leverage to secure additional grants from targeted local foundations
and corporations to support programs for minority and low-income students.
Independent College Fund of
Maryland—will create a new high-tech, high-touch “Canvas of
Communication” network that links the Independent College Fund of Maryland,
donors, colleges, and students.
Iowa
College Foundation—will implement a new Rural Scholars
Program.
Michigan Colleges
Foundation—will launch a campaign designed to raise $300,000 in
scholarships for veterans.
Missouri Colleges
Fund—will use funding to produce professionally-designed brochures
in support of three themed fundraising programs: Missouri Mathematics and
Science Scholars, First Opportunity Scholars, and Teachers First Program.
Minnesota Private College
Fund—will support a board/volunteer leadership retreat to plan and
implement a new and extensive major gifts initiative.