The Jay Pritzker Foundation, will be matching dollar to dollar up to $10,000,000. Double your donation today!
The Vision: Provide Pathways to Ensure Educational Equity in Marin County
Imagine a College of Marin where every student, regardless of their personal circumstances, has the fundamental resources they need to thrive academically and achieve their educational dreams. This is the vision behind the JP Foundation Centennial Endowment Campaign – a permanent, sustainable fund dedicated to removing the non-academic barriers that too often derail promising students.
The Community
Marin County often ranks as one of the wealthiest counties in the United States, boasting a per capita income nearly double the California average yet Marin holds a more dubious distinction of having the state’s highest level of income inequality. Nearly one in ten households struggle to meet basic needs including paying for food and groceries, monthly car payments and transportation, and housing and utility bills. For example, the poverty rate for Latinx households in Marin (19%) is 3x greater than the overall poverty rate for the county. (Marin Economic Form, March 2023)
COM is a cornerstone of higher education in Marin, providing affordable and accessibility opportunities to students of a diverse social and economic background. There are 469 degrees and certificates through a variety of workforce development and certificate programs that lead to direct employment in high-demand fields such as healthcare and skilled trades. Through transfer agreements with many universities, there are guaranteed opportunities for students to obtain a four-year degree. In fact, COM has the highest transfer acceptance rate for University of California Berkeley with approximately 40% of applicants admitted in the past two years.
It is estimated that at present this represents a $146 million annual impact on the state of California economy, supporting almost 800 jobs and generating almost $9 million in tax revenues to the State of California government. It is a clear fact that California’s community colleges are an investment playing a critical role in driving the state’s economy and making a difference in millions of lives daily,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley.
He noted the report’s estimates that for every $1 invested in the community college system, students gain $5 in earnings, and taxpayers see a net benefit of $2 in added tax revenue stemming from students’ higher lifetime earnings and increased output by businesses. An average community college graduate with an associate degree will see an increase in earnings of $11,100 annually, when compared to a person with a high school diploma or equivalent.
College of Marin has, for almost a century, served to reverse the tides of inequity and is a major force in leveling the playing field not only for those who aspire to advanced degrees but for the thousands students each year who have received employment skill, English proficiency, and certification in well-paying trades. We believe education is the greatest pathway to social and economic equity.
The Foundation at College of Marin
College of Marin Foundation (COMF) obtained its 501c3 status in January 1965. Our mission is to ensure that no student should be denied educational opportunities due to a lack of financial resources. Last year, the Foundation provided more than $2.3 million in program and student support through scholarships and grants. Through a network of alumni, staff, faculty, community members and partners we reduce the barriers for students to obtain an education.
The Challenge: When Basic Needs Become Educational Barriers
College of Marin students are bright, motivated, and resilient. Each year, more than 11,000 students come to us seeking knowledge, skills, and a pathway to a better future. Yet, many face significant, often hidden, struggles that have nothing to do with their academic capabilities:
- Food Insecurity: 37% of our students report the need to skip meals to afford textbooks, medical bills, or transportation, instead they rely on unhealthy, inexpensive options, impacting their concentration and health.
- Housing Instability: The prohibitive cost of living in Marin County means students may be couch-surfing, living in overcrowded conditions, or even facing homelessness, creating immense stress. 32% of our students faced housing insecurity.
- Transportation Hurdles: Lack of reliable transportation can lead to missed classes and limited access to campus resources.
- Childcare Costs: Student-parents often struggle to find or afford quality childcare, forcing them to choose between their education and their family's well-being.
- Unexpected Emergencies: A sudden medical bill, car repair, or loss of a part-time job can be catastrophic for a student living on a tight budget - 30% of students will drop out for a bill less than $500.
- Access to Technology & Course Materials: In today's digital age, reliable internet and access to required software and textbooks are essential for success.
- Changes in work schedules: Part-time work often equates to a shifting and fluctuating work schedule where students must choose between securing financial resources for their family or taking another class.
These challenges are not mere inconveniences; they are significant obstacles that can lead to decreased academic performance, increased stress and anxiety, and ultimately, students dropping out before reaching their goals.
The impact of these basic needs insecurities is stark. At COM, while our resolute faculty and staff work tirelessly to support students. Nearly half of students do not complete a degree, certificate, or transfer within six years. While many factors contribute to these outcomes, unmet basic needs like hunger, housing instability, and lack of transportation play a significant role in forcing students to pause their education or leave college altogether, often just short of their goals.
Our Solution: A Legacy of Support – The Basic Needs Endowment
To address these critical issues in a lasting and meaningful way, we are establishing the JP Foundation Centennial Endowment.
Unlike one-time funding, an endowment provides a permanent and reliable source of support. Contributions to the endowment are invested, and a portion of the annual earnings is used to fund vital basic needs services. The principal remains intact, growing over time, ensuring that future generations of College of Marin students will also benefit.
Funds from the Basic Needs Endowment will support initiatives such as:
- Emergency Grants: Quick-response aid for students facing unforeseen financial crises (e.g., rent, utilities, medical expenses).
- Food Pantry & Meal Vouchers: Expanding access to nutritious food on and off campus.
- Transportation Assistance: Subsidies for public transport, gas cards, or support for bike programs.
- Childcare Support: Vouchers or grants to help student-parents afford childcare.
- Textbook & Technology Loaning Programs: Ensuring access to essential learning materials and digital tools.
- Rent Assistance: Helping students remain housed.
- Referral Services: Connecting students with community resources for housing, healthcare, and more.
The Transformative Impact: Investing in Students, Strengthening Our Community
By investing in the Basic Needs Endowment, you are not just providing aid; you are:
- Empowering Students: Enabling them to focus on their studies, persist through challenges, and achieve their academic potential.
- Increasing Retention & Graduation Rates: Helping more students cross the finish line and earn their degrees or certificates.
- Fostering a More Equitable Campus: Ensuring that all students have a fair chance to succeed, regardless of their economic background.
- Strengthening Our Local Workforce: Graduating skilled individuals who contribute to the economic vitality of Marin County and beyond.
- Creating a Lasting Legacy: Your gift will continue to support students in perpetuity, creating a ripple effect of positive change for generations to come.
Your Role: Partner with Us to Build Foundations for Success
The JP Foundation committed to the success of this campaign. For this reason, they have pledged a dollar-for-dollar match up to $10 million, creating a $20 million campaign. This means that your gift today will be doubled. We are requesting the community to join us on our journey to historically change the lives of our students for all future generations. We need your help. We invite you to join us in building this vital Fund. Your investment will provide a stable foundation upon which our students can build their futures.
Whether you are an alumnus, a community member, a local business, or a philanthropic foundation, your contribution will make a profound difference.
- Give a gift today to help us launch and grow the endowment.
- Consider a multi-year pledge to provide sustained support.
- Explore planned giving options to leave a lasting legacy.
Together, we can ensure that no College of Marin student is forced to choose between their basic needs and their education.