Ways to Give

ECC offers affordable education with high academic standards, preparing students for the workforce and further education. The ECC Foundation supports students in reaching their educational and career goals through scholarships and programs. Your donation opens doors for ECC students, benefiting their lives, the future, and the community.

Your support will ensure the following:

• Our community members have access to educational opportunities, regardless of their circumstances.
• Excellence and innovation are rewarded.
• The quality and capacity of ECC’s programs are maintained and grow as needed to serve our community.

Designate Your Gift to Transform Lives and Support Excellence

Your contribution to the ECC Foundation can be directed to one of the following impactful areas:

• Resources for Excellence Annual Fund - Help our students thrive through diverse initiatives that enhance their learning journey. This fund supports:
  • Classroom Resources: Ensure our students access the latest materials and technology for cutting-edge education.
  • Leadership and Professional Development: Fund experiences that build leadership skills and foster collaboration, preparing students for future success and impactful careers.
  • Innovative Grants for Faculty and Staff: Encourage creative teaching methods and projects that enrich the student experience.
• Student Scholarships - Unlock opportunities in higher education for deserving students. Scholarships at ECC alleviate financial burdens, allowing students to focus on their studies and reach their full potential. These awards make college more accessible to all qualified applicants, and the ECC Foundation provides over $350,000 annually to support students across various scholarship categories. These include Financial Need, Academic and Leadership Excellence, Career Areas of Study, and Overcoming Obstacles. Here is a brief overview of what the ECC Foundation has to offer:
  
  • General Scholarships: These scholarships provide valuable support to a wide array of students, helping them overcome financial obstacles and thrive in higher education. They are open to students who meet various eligibility criteria, including but not limited to:
    
    • Adult Learners: Students aged 26 and older who are returning to or continuing their studies.
    • Community Service: Individuals dedicated to volunteering and creating positive change.
    • First-Generation Students: The first in their family to attend college, setting a path for future generations.
  • Academic and Leadership Excellence Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate academic success and leadership potential. To qualify, applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Additional criteria include:
    • Bachelor’s Degree Pathway: Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree.
    • Part-Time, Degree-Seeking: Part-time students pursuing a degree and residents of District 509.
    • Campus Involvement: Active members of college clubs or service organizations, showing dedication to community and campus life.
  • Career Areas of Study Scholarships: These scholarships support students focused on specific career paths, with funding for various fields to help cover educational expenses in programs such as:
    • Automotive & Technical Trades: Automotive, Industrial Manufacturing Tech, Welding
    • Health & Medical Professions: Nursing, Pre-Med, Health Professions, Massage, Radiography
    • Engineering & Computer Technology: Engineering, Computer-Aided Design, Electronics
      
      These scholarships are tailored to encourage students across diverse fields to pursue their passions and career goals, providing financial assistance to support their academic journey at ECC.
• Academic Programs and Student Services - Make an impact by supporting academic programs and student services that directly enrich students' lives:
  • Support a Specific Program: Your donation can fund equipment, resources, or special projects within the program of your choice.
  • Expand Student Services: Contribute to essential services like career counseling, mental health support, tutoring, and more, helping students navigate their educational journey.

Your gift to the Elgin Community College Foundation is critical in helping us create bright futures for our students—and our entire community.

Our Commitment to Our Community

The faculty, staff, and administrators are dedicated to the success of each student. Our goals include:

• We meet students where they are and help them realize their dreams, regardless of their background or circumstances.
• Provide access to hands-on training for real-world, in-demand skills in programs that immediately equip our students to contribute to a 21st-century workforce.
• Develop partnerships with local industry, community, and education leaders to shape the future of our students. Learn more about ECC's role in our community and workforce partnership opportunities.

You Can Join Us

The ECC Foundation is looking for partners who can help our students succeed for generations to come. There are three key ways you can help.

• Please support us financially through donations, sponsorships, grants, scholarship endowments, and legacy gifts. Giving to ECC is easy, and every gift matters. 
• Be a volunteer with one of our many affinity groups or event planning committees, or express your interest in joining the ECC Foundation Board.
• Build a strategic partnership between your organization and our academic and advancement programs to explore opportunities for mutual success. 

Gifts by Cash and Check

The Foundation accepts checks, cash, and money orders. Please make checks or money orders payable to:

• ECC Foundation, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123  
• Please do not mail cash.  

Online Donations

Support us securely with online donations and payments. You can choose from convenient payment options, including one-time or recurring donations. Your online gift is protected through our secure payment portal. You will receive a confirmation receipt via email for your records. 

Benefits of Giving Online: 

• Convenience: The convenience of donating anywhere, anytime.
• Flexibility: Set up a one-time donation or choose an amount and schedule for recurring payments.
• Impact: Every donation contributes directly to our mission.

ECC Foundation thanks you for your generosity and commitment to supporting our purpose.

Give Now

Stock Transfer

Making a gift of stock is a strategic way to support ECC while benefiting from a charitable deduction based on the stock’s fair market value. For assistance with your stock transfer, please get in touch with the ECC Foundation at 847-214-7377. We’ll guide you through the necessary transmittal instructions to ensure your gift is processed smoothly.

Pledges

Pledging allows you to fulfill your commitment over a period that works best for you, with options to contribute in installments over as many as five (5) years or another timeframe that fits your plans. This flexible approach to giving can help you significantly impact ECC’s programs and students while aligning with your financial goals. To set up your pledge, please contact the ECC Foundation, and we’ll help create an agreement that suits your charitable intentions.

Will, Trust, Estate Plan, or Insurance Policy

Consider leaving a legacy gift by including the ECC Foundation in your estate plans, ensuring your commitment to education lives on for future generations. Options include:

• Bequests
• Naming ECC as a beneficiary in a life insurance policy
• Establishing a charitable trust

Our team can guide you in various ways to structure a planned gift. Once you notify us of your intentions, you’ll become a member of the Spartan Legacy Society, joining others who believe in the transformative power of education. Contact the ECC Foundation for assistance, or visit our website to learn more about planned giving.

Memorials and Tributes

Honor or remember a loved one, mentor, or cherished friend by designating a gift to the ECC Foundation in their name. Tribute gifts celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and retirements, while memorial gifts honor the life and legacy of those who’ve passed. Your tribute will memorialize your honoree and support future students and educational initiatives.

Rho Kappa Transfer Scholarship

The Rho Kappa Transfer Scholarship, with a goal of $10,000, is dedicated to helping members of the Rho Kappa Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) continue their education at a four-year institution. By supporting this scholarship, you’ll become part of a transformative journey for PTK members as they transition to new academic challenges. Join us in making the Rho Kappa Transfer Scholarship story an opportunity for future scholars.

Matching Gifts

Many employers offer matching gift programs that can double or even triple the impact of your donation. Check with your Human Resources department to see if your company has a matching gift program, and request the necessary forms to complete your matching gift. This simple step can maximize your contribution to ECC.

In-Kind Gifts

In-kind gifts or non-cash contributions are valuable in supporting ECC’s mission. From equipment and materials to technology and services, in-kind gifts can meet specific needs and enhance our educational resources. If you want to contribute goods or services, our Foundation team will work with you to determine if the donation aligns with current needs and approval criteria.

If you have questions about any of these giving options, please contact the ECC Foundation at 847-214-7377 or foundation@elgin.edu. We recommend consulting with your professional advisors to ensure your financial and estate plans align with your charitable intentions. Information provided here and on our website is intended for educational purposes only.