THE PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC
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Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The former executive director of education and workforce at Gallup, Brandon Busteed, wrote an article for Forbes Magazine in September 2019. In the article, Busteed suggests there is no better return on investment than a college education. In his article, Busteed references research conducted by Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney. Their research concludes, "an investment in a college degree delivers an inflation-adjusted annual return of more than 15%, significantly larger than the historical return on stocks (7%) and bonds, gold and real estate (all below 3%)." In his Forbes article, Busteed also suggests that a college education helps erase income inequality. At Pensacola State College Foundation we work to eliminate the barriers to a higher education and with donors provide scholarships and other supports that make a college education more affordable and more accessible.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Scholarship Support
Generous donors helped provide $895,415.00 in scholarship awards in 2022. This support made a difference through 1,561 awards to 1,066 unique students. Overall, we believe this support helps them and their families become more financially stable; especially considering the fact that 95% of PSC students graduate debt-free.
Athletic/Booster Support
Athletics and Athletic Boosters
PSC athletes logged 27 community service projects with an estimated 972 volunteer hours.
PSC provides invaluable support for all student-athletes. Every gift has a positive impact on their ability to succeed in the classroom, in competitions, and in the community. Thanks to the generosity its donors, the PSC Foundation received donations to support Athletics.
PSC’s Athletics Boosters helped support student-athletes by providing updated equipment and facilities.
2022 Highlights
-The Carla Williams Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established and she was inducted into the Hall of
Fame.
-PSC Women’s Soccer announced to start in Fall 2023
-PSC eSports made the playoffs in their first year
-Women's Basketball ranked top 25
-Softball back-to-back Panhandle Conference Champions
-Volleyball winners of the Sun-Lakes Conference
Friends of Performing Arts
PSC’s Affinity Group, Friends of Performing Arts, supports students and allows them to receive brand-new equipment, updated facilities, and resources to succeed in their studies.
In 2022, PSC Performing Arts received $8,850 in cash and in-kind donations to support their program
2022 events were attended by over 6,000 patrons Received a $7,000 grant from Florida Theatrical Association which awarded seven students with $1,000 scholarships.
2022 Highlights
-PSC Jazz Band performed at Pensacola JazzFest and Greater Gulfcoast Arts Festival
-Dr. Joe Stallings was elected to the Florida College System Activities Association Hall of Fame
-Technical Director, Lance Brannon joined the Performing Arts Program
-Hosted the musical, Company;
-Hosted The Merry Wives of Windsor and Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
-Over 45 high schoolers present for the summer showing of All Shook Up
-Hosted ComposerFest XVII and 2 piano recitals sponsored by the Kamerman Piano Series.
Friends of Culinary Arts
The PSC Culinary Department helps cultivate the next generation of food and hospitality industry professionals. In 2022, supporters of the culinary arts at the College gave over $6,330 in cash and in-kind donations. PSC’s Affinity Group, Friends of Culinary Arts, helps support these talented students with gifts that inspire opportunity and excellence.
2022 Highlights
-PSC Culinary Arts served 1,300 meals across six events including Garde Manger, the Academy of
Teaching Excellence dinner, and the Department of Education breakfast
-Hosted etiquette training and lunch for 60 students
-Hosted a pancake breakfast on each PSC campus feeding 300 students during finals week
-Participated in the PSC Student Symposium
-Provided cakes for a building renaming and a Veterans Day event
Tips from Culinary meals enabled $7,324.50 in scholarship support in 2022.
Anna Society for the Visual Arts
Pensacola State College Visual Arts work to exhibit, collect, interpret, lend, and preserve all works of visual arts. PSC’s Affinity Group, the Anna Society for Visual Arts, helps enable students to receive access to new equipment, materials, and advanced spaces to practice their crafts through financial support.
Additionally, the Anna Society helps secure artwork that can be studied by students as part of the College's permanent art collection.
In 2022, PSC Visual Arts received over $50,990 in cash and in-kind donations; $26,800 of artwork donated to the College’s permanent collection by PSC Trustee and former Foundation Board of Governor “Flash” Gordon Sprague and his wife, Bette.
2022 Highlights
-Hosted visiting artist Tra Bouscaren with his exhibition Test Pattern, and Sue Havens with her exhibition CULL; and international artist Lara Sophie Benjamin as part of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival.
-20 students received awards in the 2022 Annual Student Art Awards Exhibition.
Nonprofit Center for Excellence and Philanthropy
The nonprofit center trains nonprofit professionals and the key volunteers who make the social sector in Northwest Florida a vibrant source of support for those in need. Since opening in 2019, over 600 attendees from 100 nonprofits located across Northwest Florida and Alabama.
Pre and post-tests demonstrate the increase in knowledge and learning gains have been demonstrated in nonprofit management essentials, board development, strategic planning, fund development, and more. In 2024, the PSC Nonprofit Center will launch its first certification classes at the request of community funders who want to support the social services sector. These funders are asking the Nonprofit Center to warehouse certified partner paperwork to ensure local resources are used effectively and efficiently; especially among smaller nonprofits serving disadvantaged populations.
Building Support
In 2019, the College demolished the 65-year-old building that housed the STEM courses being taught at the College.
Cybersecurity courses will be taught in this new facility and are in extremely high demand (especially as the COVID-19 pandemic forced Colleges and many businesses to switch to a heavily virtual environment.)
The Foundation provided $375,000 in building expenditures to help with the construction that is underway at that new facility and Phase 1 opened in 2020. Donors have since committed an additional $1.1 million to support the students who will be enrolled in cybersecurity, advanced mathematics, and technology. The second and third phases of the building will be opened in August of 2023.
As the College's number one priority for potential State Funding is now a needed Training and Conference Center, the Foundation has recruited 94 donors who have committed over $2M to this project. With State funds, the project start is planned for July of 2024.
Programmatic Support
Whether it was support for faculty, student travel, art exhibits, performances, technology, alumni engagement, or other program costs, the Pensacola State College Foundation donors responded to additional requests for support past those other areas already listed. The goal for each support was to help increase the access and affordability of high-quality education. In the College's 2023 fiscal year (July 1-June 30, 2023), the Foundation provided over $2M in programmatic support to the College.
Where we work
External reviews

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Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of people who graduate from college with no student loan debt
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Scholarship Support
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of academic scholarships awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Scholarship Support
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2020, we supported 964 unique students with 1,489 awards. In 2021, we supported 924 unique students with 1,383 awards. In 2022, 23 supported 1,066 unique students with
Total dollar amount of scholarship awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Scholarship Support
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of students who receive scholarship funds and/or tuition assistance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Scholarship Support
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of public events held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
#s were down due to COVID - despite virtual events. While #s are tied to public events, many were building dedications & gift announcements that supported construction & programs.
Number of community events or trainings held and attendance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Nonprofit Center for Excellence and Philanthropy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
From 2019 through November 2022, there were 551 attendees representing 91 nonprofits from five Florida counties and 1 Alabama county who sought education at the Nonprofit Center.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
As a Direct Service Organization (DSO) for Pensacola State College (PSC), the Pensacola State College Foundation is committed to supporting the institutional priorities of the College. Like the College, the Foundation is committed to continuous improvement and our overarching goal is to create opportunity for lifetime success in an atmosphere of concern, respect, integrity and responsibility for students and each other.
As a DSO, we are continually working to support the institutional priorities of the College. Our ultimate goal is to ensure students are able to focus on their education and personal path to success.
Our goals are to remove barriers to access. Typically, these are financial barriers and the Foundation works to ensure students have the financial support necessary to attend and complete their preferred program of study. Annually, we fulfill this goal by providing scholarships from one of 279 privately funded scholarships that are geared to areas of donor interest. With roughly $550,000 in scholarships provided annually, we can meet a students need for funds to purchase books, supplies, or pay tuition. Our goal is always to ensure a student has access to education and that they complete their studies with no debt when they graduate.
In addition to scholarships, we also work to engage the communities where our facilities are located. Our goal is to ensure community leaders are involved in the work of the College and that they are invested in the success of our students. We strive to make sure programs have the resources necessary to improve curriculum and facilities so that graduates are trained in the using current tools. In turn, our graduates will be sought after by local employers.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We host local business partners in small groups to gather feedback and to introduce them to students and faculty. This encourages dialogue and engagement that enables us to form stronger partnerships and relationships that are mutually beneficial.
Through four membership groups (listed below), we encourage additional engagement from the community who benefits from the programming offered by the College.
Friends of Performing Arts- The Performing Arts Department plays an integral and vital part in Pensacola State College’s rich history and promising future. Members of the Friends of the Performing Arts Affinity Group support our talented students as they pursue their passions. The support of members enables our students to obtain new equipment, to earn a quality education, to practice in functional facilities, and to have exceptional opportunities. Friends of the Performing Arts not only support our students by giving financially, but also by being present at events. Each year, the department hosts the Lyceum Series which presents approximately fifteen events for the community to enjoy. Support from the Friends of Performing Arts is directed at deserving PSC students and the future of performing arts while enjoying the distinguished Lyceum Series events!
Friends of Culinary Arts-The Center for Culinary and Hospitality Management prepares its students for a profitable and exciting career. Students get hands-on experience serving members of the community throughout the lunch and dinner series each semester. These meals are so popular that tickets for an entire semester sell out in just a few hours! Program graduates have placed in the top 10 at National SkillsUSA Championships and in the World Food Championships. The Friends of Culinary Arts enable our students to obtain new equipment, to earn a quality education, to practice in functional facilities.
Anna Society for the Visual Arts-The Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts is a Pensacola State College teaching institution that strives to exhibit, collect, interpret, lend, and preserve the visual arts. Located on the College’s Pensacola campus, the center has served students and the community with quality arts education, exhibits, and programs for over thirty years. Anna Society enable our students to obtain new equipment, to earn a quality education, to practice in functional facilities, and to have exceptional opportunities. Anna Society members not only support our students by giving financially but also by enjoying the Center’s events, exhibits, and galleries.
Athletic Boosters-The Pensacola State College Athletic Department is woven into the fabric of the College. Our six talented athletic teams compromised of over 85 student-athletes are a source of pride and comradery for both the College and the community. The Athletics Booster Club promotes and supports the Pirates’ athletic program through volunteer service, financial gifts, and event attendance.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Pensacola State College has been serving the community for 72 years. For 55 of those years, Pensacola State College Foundation has successfully engaged partners and private support that has made college more accessible and affordable for individuals who wish to pursue a higher education. Over the 55 years, PSC Foundation has been able to create sustainable support for students through 179 endowed scholarships that span a variety of programs. In a routine year, close to 700 donors give over $100 to support the work of the Foundation in order to ensure programming at the college remains relevant and to support students who wish to pursue a brighter future at PSC.
Pensacola State College has graduated over 110,000 students who are leave armed with a degree or certificate that will help them improve their quality of life.
Our endowed scholarships routinely provide 55% of the funding necessary for continued scholarship awards to students in the form of financial aid.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Considering Pensacola State College is among the top 1% in affordability nationally, we feel we are on target to fulfill our mission. Over the last 55 years, we have built assets of $29M (of which $11.2M is endowed and non-expendable). These endowments will enable us to support the College and students into perpetuity.
In 2019 alone:
• 17 new scholarships were established to support students
• 55% of scholarships awarded were funded from endowment interest (over half were possible and will be funded into perpetuity)
• 764 individual students received 1,117 awards
• Athletic Film Room for game film and recruitment
• Women’s locker room upgrades
• Upgrades to the softball and baseball fields
• International travel for student-athletes signing from other countries
• Warm-up uniforms and shoes for the newly formed Women’s Cross Country Team
• Purchase microphones for the Ashmore Auditorium
• Six students by funding scholarships to help them afford their PSC courses for fall and spring terms
• PSC donors funded 35 awards that supported 20 culinary and hospitality students
• Purchased shelving for the permanent collection vault
In 2019 we launched a new Nonprofit Center for Excellence and Philanthropy at Pensacola Sate College. In the first year, we hosted 21 members (7 organizational memberships) and had 4 individuals sign up for memberships. 161 attendees participated in training workshops. They were representative of 24 nonprofits from Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties and demonstrated a 220% increase in knowledge from the before/after quizzes conducted.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
THE PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC
Board of directorsas of 06/12/2023
Trey Poirier
Merrill Lynch
Term: 2022 - 2024
Mike Morette
Morette Construction Company
Term: 2022 - 2024
Tom Owens
Truist
Betty Roberts
retired
Jennifer Cole
Resort Quest
Lane Harper
Staples
Sharon Hess Herrick
Hess Realty Group
Tom Lampone
Florida Blue
Kramer Litvak
Litvak Beasley Wilson & Ball LLP
Scott Luth
SpaceX
Lumon May
Escambia County Commision and May's Construction
Alan Nickelsen
Synovus
James Reeves
Reeves & Davis
Kerry Anne Schultz
Fountain, Schultz & Associates, P.L.
Bill Wein
IMS Expert Services
Damaris Gonzales
Retired
Becca Boles
Florida Power and Light
Gene Valentino
Retired
Chandra Smiley
Community Health of Northwest Florida
Gordon Sprague
Retired
Eric Randall
City of Pensacola
Jim Benson
Retired
Dick Dixon
Retired
Charlie Sherrill
SouthState Bank
Bobby Potomski
Baptist Gulf Breeze Hospital
Tyler Kercher
State Farm
Nancy Fetterman
Retired
Hal George
Legislative Aide to Senator Doug Broxson
Fallon Kurpuis
D.R. Horton
Will Moore
Office of State Attorney, Ginger Bowden Madden
Jo-Ann Price
Price Family Foundation & Price Financial
Jessica Wimer
JW Restaurant Group Inc.
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data