Community college students are being forced to delay future educational goals, due to the lack of financial support. Grants, student loans and financial aid support from government sources are in short supply. While past resources from state legislative bodies are being restricted and have been reduced to historic levels; educational organizations – community college foundations – have had to associate themselves with numerous outside sources. Collaborative partnerships with business, government, and industry have helped to relieve financial short-falls and student scholarship pressures while building long term and sustaining relationships.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the process of annual giving within Texas Gulf Coast Community Colleges. A framework for the study was structured inside of five different institutions in the Gulf Coast region. Additionally, this study set out to examine the overall context of annual giving and whether college foundations were utilizing annual giving as a relationship tool for development and fundraising purposes.

The research design followed an interview, case study format utilizing qualitative data. The study had several major findings. First, all colleges adhere to inputs, processes, and outputs. Second, by analyzing each of the inputs and processes, a set of output relationships- were discovered. Third, all institutions have a set of functions – financial, organizational, operational, and structural – which are in alignment with inputs, process and outputs. Fourth, brand identity helps to integrate donors and thereby, builds sustained and long-term support.

Annual giving within Texas Gulf Coast community colleges has become a major fixture as a fundraising practice. Foundations are making the most of this tool by positioning themselves with their community and thus, reaping the benefits of donor relationships.