History

Southern West Virginia Community College Foundation, Inc., was organized in 1971 and chartered as a separate, not-for-profit, IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organization in October 1990. The Foundation has the authority to fundraise, invest, and endow funds that provide financial support for the educational needs of students attending Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College.

In September 2006, the Southern West Virginia Community College Foundation, Inc., in cooperation with Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College initiated the Vision 2020 Major Gifts Campaign to assist the college in achieving a multitude of long range plans and growth in our region. The Vision 2020 Major Gifts Campaign goal is to raise $20 million dollars by the year 2020.

Since 2006, the Southern West Virginia Community College Foundation has distributed more than $3.1 million dollars in scholarships to local students, and more than $554,000 in education program development and marketing funds to Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College.

The Foundation prides itself on its award of scholarships and other types of assistance to meet the needs of students and the College. Private support is more critical than ever in meeting Southern’s goals and its mission as a community and technical college. The high cost of tuition at larger universities and colleges has directed more students to community colleges and placed a marked increase in the demand for educational services, particularly at Southern. The role of the Foundation continues to be essential in assisting students.