Thanks for your interest in the Gateway Foundation! We hope that we answer your question below, but if you find that you’d still like some information, please feel free to reach out via the contact information at the bottom of the page.
Why does Gateway Technical College need a foundation?
There are several reasons why the development of the foundation can assist the college. Because of state restrictions on how community and technical colleges may receive and disburse gifts and grants, fundraising is cumbersome, if not impossible, for the college as an entity. As a separate body, the foundation can raise dollars for grants and scholarships and make investments to build an endowment for the future.
But the major advantage of the foundation is that it provides a means of fostering public interest in the college’s work. This is particularly important for a technical college, which often doesn’t have an active overall alumni group or support organization and thus needs a channel to involve community leaders in its operation. A strong foundation board of prominent, community-minded citizens not only opens doors to needed support dollars, but it also helps to interest other citizens with an appreciation for the goals and objectives of the college. Thus, the foundation provides a way for the entire community, as well as the college’s alumni, students and employees, to participate in the overall development and stability of Gateway Technical College.
Why does the college need private funding?
There are several specific reasons for a tax-assisted technical college to seek private contributions. The foundation assists in the fiscal stability of the college’s educational services. The budget required by the college is only partially met by state allocations, and those dollars have decreased by large amounts as a percentage of Gateway Technical College’s budget over the past 15-20 years. Gateway Technical College is challenged to meet the fiscal needs of its educational programs, as well as supporting the needs of its students. More than 70 percent of Gateway Technical College’s students are eligible for Federal Financial Aid, which normally only covers a small percentage of a student’s financial needs. Gateway Technical College Foundation helps those students through grants and scholarships, but the number of applicants and the needs are always much greater than the foundation’s ability to help. That’s why private donations are so critical in helping to maintain the ability to assist those students with the greatest needs.
What does the foundation do for the college?
The foundation is empowered to solicit and receive gifts (whether money or other tangible assets) from individuals, partnerships, corporations or any other sources. Such gifts may be directed toward specific purposes or may be given without restriction to be used as determined by the foundation’s board of directors.
Who is responsible for the foundation operations?
The direct management of Gateway Technical College Foundation is vested in its volunteer board of directors, comprising business and professional leaders from the community and representatives of the college.
What is the relationship between the foundation and the college?
Even though the foundation is a separate, legal entity, through its affiliation with the college, it must disburse its funds for the benefit of Gateway Technical College and its students.
How can I participate in the foundation?
Each individual who makes a contribution to Gateway Technical College Foundation is actually participating by supporting the goals and objectives of the college. But in addition to financial contributions, the foundation welcomes gifts of time, energy, advice, guidance and leadership to support the foundation in carrying out its purpose, either by volunteering for a foundation event, serving on a board committee or by providing service as a director on our board.
How can I help support Gateway Technical College Foundation?
Many citizens in Southeastern Wisconsin communities and beyond believe Gateway Technical College Foundation is an excellent way for private citizens, business and industry, and other organizations to help their community’s college through tax-deductible contributions of:
- Cash or securities for direct aid to students (scholarships, emergency grants, GED testing grants), mission support or the endowment.
- Gifts for capital/building campaigns
- Donations of equipment, supplies, property or real estate
- Planned giving (bequests)