CAPITAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC

For more than 50 years Capital Community College has been a stepping stone to a professional degree, transfer to the baccalaureate and career advancement for generations of Greater Hartford residents.

At Capital, student success means academic success, retention and graduation. Capital strives to promote academic excellence for all students by creating a learner-centered educational environment that values diversity and inclusiveness, cultivates scholarship, affirms students’ prior knowledge and experience, eliminates barriers to academic achievement, and encourages student engagement in personally meaningful and transformational scholarly pursuits.

In 2019-2020 the Capital foundation seeks the engagement and support of the community to fulfill its mission by:

1. Creating more access to higher education and sustainable employment for first generation students and working adults (scholarships).

2. Providing the services and programs that lead to student success and higher graduation rates (student success programs).

3. Enhancing the campus environment for teaching and learning with state of the art facilities, curriculum innovation and new resources that maintain a tradition of academic excellence (Capital and program initiatives).

4. Serve as a prudent and effective steward of annual, endowment and capital gifts donated to the College.

To improve retention rates and fulfill the College's access mission the CCC Foundation currently seeks to broaden its donor and grant base to underwrite:

* Scholarships: Capital utilizes more federal and state financial aid on a per student basis than any other CT community college but cost roadblocks and hardships remain for many students who are the first in their families to pursue a degree.

* the Center for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI): While open access may get economically disadvantaged students in the door, many undergraduates encounter personal, social and financial challenges that get in the way of academic progress and graduation. In response CCC is re-purposing space for “equity” that will be a link to “wraparound services” with partner agencies and organizations that can address needs such as housing, food, personal finance, immigration, behavioral health and health care.

* Summer Bridge Student Success Program The Center for Academic Transitions and Student Services’ enrollment management team is committed to easing the transition of first generation students as they enter college. Interventions are needed to increase the College’s current retention rate of 45%. A six-week “bridge” program, effectively utilized at Capital at “Academies of Success” in past years, will improve achievement in the first year of college.

* Drop-In Child Care Center: Safe, affordable child care is beyond the reach of many working parents who are seeking degrees to secure sustainable employment. The nationally accredited Elaine Stewart McKirdy Early Childhood Center on the Capital campus was the first child care center established for students at Connecticut community colleges. To extend flexible and quality child care options, CCC seeks to expand the center with a facility that will make short-term child care services possible during day and evening class times for student parents who are balancing work, family and study to earn a degree or professional credential.

* Career Services Center: A new Center for Career Development, building on the success of Capital’s nationally recognized career advancement programs in the insurance and health care sectors, is being developed into a model that consolidates the School of Workforce and Continuing Education with the Office of Career Planning and Placement. The revitalized center will help part and full time students and alumni prepare for work and advancement in the 21st century economy.

* Hartford Heritage Program: “the city is our campus”: The Hartford Heritage Program (Capitalcc.edu/HHP), launched with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), links college courses with the city’s cultural and historic institutions and places. By teaching themes that explore Hartford the city becomes an extended classroom, and Capital’s diverse, urban student population gains an understanding of and appreciation for their community.

The Institutional Advancement office, relying on a Director of Institutional Advancement, works with the College's Chief Executive Officer and Foundation board of directors to help the College secure external funding from public and private sources in accordance with the College’s mission. The Director of Institutional Advancement is staff liaison to the College’s non-profit Foundation and its committees.


Advancement Office’s fund-raising functions include:

* Identifying government, foundation and corporate funding sources relevant to the College’s programs, initiatives and needs;
* Developing relationships with outside fund providers and prospective individual and business donors;
* Preparing grant proposals and providing assistance to faculty and administrators in seeking external support.

Capital Community College's downtown location has led to partnerships with cultural institutions, businesses and government at the campus’ doorstep providing students with a rich learning experience that is stimulating, with access to jobs and internships they won't get anywhere else.

In 2017-2018 (year ending 6/30/2019) the Capital Community College Foundation's net assets reached $2,091,611 compared to $1,767,359 for the 2016-2017 year. Donations and grants totaled $386,698 in 2017-2018 compared to $206,881 for the previous year.

Since 2014 the Foundation has provided $344,265 in scholarships and financial aid to students and $637,987 in program grants to the College.