Annual giving is the fundraising backbone of our institution with solicitation of all NWC alumni and friends on a yearly basis. Its focus is on receiving regular contributions that support academic programs, student scholarships, and provide resources that are vital in today’s educational climate. Your gift, no matter the size, ensures Northwest College can continue offering the high-quality educational opportunities for which it is known. Every gift, large, medium or small counts.
Annual gifts may be designated to any department, or program at NWC. Go to our Online Giving Form to make a gift and help the Northwest College fulfill its mission. For more information, contact Jill Hartmann.
Presidential Partners
Our Presidential Partners program recognizes distinguished annual philanthropy. Our mission is simple: to strengthen financial support for students at Northwest. We are building a community of people who believe so strongly in helping NWC students that they commit to give at least $1,000 each year as an investment in higher education. Members receive special invitations to a variety of events and other privileges. Be a partner!
Giving Day
Since its inception in 2021, Giving Day has raised more than $519,000 to support NWC programs and projects. This annual giving blitz encourages alumni, students, community members, faculty, staff and other Trapper fans to rally together and make gifts during a 24-hour period. Even gifts as small as $5 have been matched by generous Giving Day supporters to multiply the impact of each donation.
Click here to see what we have planned for the next Giving Day!
In a remarkable show of support, generous donors fund scholarships earmarked for specific academic disciplines, activity-talent areas and athletics at Northwest College. Each year, the Foundation provides nearly $2 million in scholarships to provide access for students to higher education.
You have two ways to fund your scholarship at Northwest College.
- Annual scholarships require annual contributions for the lifetime of the scholarship. Gift amounts are used to fund awards each year. A $500 minimum is suggested.
- Endowed scholarships require a larger initial investment, but don’t necessitate ongoing contributions. Only the income from the gift is awarded each year. A $10,000 minimum is required. The $10,000 can be built over a period of up to five years. A small annual fee is charged to each endowed scholarship fund to help cover management costs.
You will be involved in establishing the criteria for selecting a recipient. A written Memorandum of Understanding will set forth your intentions for scholarship name, academic program, geographic requirement, grade-point average, year in school and other possible parameters. A selection committee will review applicants to find a student who best matches your criteria.
After you establish a scholarship, you will receive an invitation each year to meet with your scholarship recipient, getting a chance to know more about your student. Our donors tell us that making a personal connection with a student is the most rewarding aspect of funding a scholarship.
Donors also receive a personal thank-you letter from recipients and an annual financial report detailing the activity related to their scholarship. Students who apply will see a profile with photo and biographical information to help them understand the special meaning behind the funds they receive.
The NWC Foundation will also handle “pass-through” awards to NWC students from organizations that administer their own scholarships.
A gift that never stops giving…
Endowed contributions are gifts that ‘keep giving’ annually to support the areas donors care about most. Endowments are maintained as permanent funds with the income produced by investing the corpus used in achieving the donors’ goals, including student scholarships, academic program support, or special funding to address strategic initiatives at Northwest College.
NWC Foundation manages 300+ endowments. Funds are pooled for investment purposes, but each endowment is accounted for separately using allocated shares. Money to meet the donors’ interests is calculated using an annual payout rate set by the Foundation Board. Additional funds are added to each endowment as growth which protects the funds from inflation or market downturns. A small management fee is also charged to each endowment.
With current challenges regarding higher education revenue, endowments produce a predictable income stream and provide sustainable funding for NWC students or College operations.
Endowed Chairs/Positions
An endowed chair is a faculty position that is privately funded by an endowment, ensuring the position lasts in perpetuity. It’s both an honor to the appointed as a chair holder and an enduring tribute to the donor who establishes it.
In 2023, the NWC Foundation received just over $3 million from a local alumni couple to fund the first endowed chair positions at NWC. The gift created two endowments, each valued at $1.5 million, with investment proceeds supporting the chair position and special programming. The priority for funding is salary support, but these endowments also provide professional development for the faculty named to each chair and support for innovative student experiences in the classroom.
If you would like to visit about setting up an endowment or learn more about endowing positions at Northwest College, contact Shelby Wetzel.
