The giving tree: trends in philanthropic giving in Texas community colleges

A developing recession, coupled with growing enrollment pressures, has created increasing economic strains for Texas’ community colleges. The College Board reports that community college tuition increases averaged 5.8 percent during the 2001-2002 academic year. The open door policy of community colleges threatens to close on students in marginal economic circumstances when absolute limits on tuition and fee charges are not maintained. Research indicates that funding from traditional sources will continue to decline. Economic and fiscal challenges require community college leaders to improve the performance of existing college foundations and fundraising endeavors to sustain their very existence. Identifying the motivational reasons for why corporate entities and alumni of community colleges become philanthropic donors and matching that information with the beliefs of community college administrators about donor giving likely can improve vastly the economic state of community colleges in Texas. This study utilized quantitative research through a survey sent to the 51 two-year community colleges in Texas, and qualitative methodology through the Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA) process developed by Dr. Novell Northcutt and Dr. Danny McCoy at The University of Texas at Austin. The IQA protocol was used to form definitions (affinities) and causal relationships from two focus groups --- a community college administrators’ group whose members were not actively involved in philanthropic giving at their respective colleges and a focus group of alumni and corporate donors to community colleges. Additional qualitative research was conducted using the IQA technique with four interviewees --- a community college alumna, a corporate executive donor, an administrative foundations director, and a foundation trustee. The research explored the motivations, benefits, and rewards that led to philanthropic giving by alumni and corporate donors, comparing them to the beliefs of community college administrators. Characteristics that led to philanthropic giving by donors to community colleges were reputation of the college, allegiance to the college, and company employee involvement. Primary rewards were a return to the community and to the alumni/company. Research concluded with a model for success in obtaining donor philanthropic giving for community colleges.