BIG things are happening at the Kirkwood Foundation, and we are sharing the news with you first. We are excited to announce “The Community’s College - The Community’s Future” $15 million major gifts campaign.
Your generosity during the “Kirkwood Cares: The Community’s College – The Community’s Future” employee giving campaign shows our stakeholders – students, alumni, and community – that our employees see the need and support Kirkwood programs and students.
The Kirkwood Foundation’s primary goal is to make college more accessible to all. Scholarships provide an opportunity for education and training, and make a tremendous impact in the lives of students and their families. The scholarship program is now expanding to include diploma and certificate programs.
Students encountering financial insecurity face significant barriers to continuing their education. The Student Success Fund is designed to provide support for students beyond tuition to ensure they do not lose momentum toward completing their degree, diploma or certificate.
Kirkwood offers community-based English Acquisition courses to help English language learners speak, read, and write in English. Kirkwood receives limited state funding to offer these courses at no cost. Due to limited funding, the college is unable to meet the current need, with courses filling immediately.
Healthcare technology is constantly evolving, requiring regular lab and equipment upgrades to prepare students for today’s medical industry. Supporting the Healthcare Simulation Center and Anatomy & Physiology Labs is critical to maintain Kirkwood’s existing commitment to academic excellence.
With over 400 funds available, we would love to talk with you regarding other areas of the college you can direct your gift. Our largest and most versatile fund, Area of Greatest Need for Student Assistance, allows us to direct funds to projects as needed each year, such as mini-grants, student activities, and scholarships. Reach out to Alison Robinson for assistance finding the fund that supports your passion.
Yes, I will support the campaign!
Donations can be made by cash, check, credit card, or payroll deduction.
Employees who donate to the campaign through a one-time gift or payroll deduction will receive a “Why I Give” feather in campus mail. Decorate as you wish, and send back to the Foundation in campus mail or drop off at the Info Desk in Iowa Hall. We will display them in Iowa Hall at the end of the campaign.
We asked Kirkwood scholarship recipients, faculty and staff, and community members to talk about what supporting the Kirkwood Foundation means to them. Here is what they had to say:
Supporting Kirkwood Staff and Faculty
Supporting Kirkwood Students
Support from Community Partners
The example below starts at $5, but there is no minimum payroll deduction required.
| Donation per pay period | Annual Gift | Offset the costs of tuition so students don't have to decide between |
|---|---|---|
| $5 | $120 | Buying a textbook or paying an electricity bill |
| $10 | $240 | Paying for 1 credit hour of tuition or paying the monthly cell phone bill |
| $20 | $480 | Paying for 2 credit hours or buying gas to get to campus, work, etc. |
| $30 | $720 | Buying a laptop for class or buying groceries for a family of four |
| $42 | $1,008* | Paying for 5 credit hours or paying for daycare |
| $50 | $1,200* | Paying for 6 credit hours of tuition or paying rent/mortgage |
Kirkwood has 26 payroll periods, but the payroll deduction is based on 24 pay periods. For the two months with three paychecks, the deduction is taken from the first and second check of that month.
How do I make a change to an existing payroll deduction? We sincerely appreciate all the employees who currently give through payroll deduction. An existing payroll deduction counts toward this year's campaign and automatically renews annually unless you notify us otherwise. If you have questions or want to make a change to your payroll deduction, contact Tresa Wandrey at 319-398-5457 or tresa.wandrey@kirkwood.edu.