About the COD Foundation
The mission of the College of the Desert Foundation is to act as an advocate for the college and to secure financial support, enhancing the educational opportunities for all students.
Your Impact
College of the Desert Foundation has gifted over $100 million to COD over the past 40 years to support Funds for Student Success classroom and faculty upgrades, and as of 2012, supported the EDGE program which helped institutionalize a free tuition component in 2017, plEDGE.
1,262 SCHOLARSHIPS
AWARDED
in the 2020/2021 Fiscal Year.
501 STUDENT EMERGENCY
GRANTS AWARDED
since 2020 Fund Inception.
$43M IN
ENDOWMENTS
held in perpetuity to support a variety of
scholarships and programs.
1,931 INDIVIDUAL GIFTS
AWARDED
in the 2020/2021 Fiscal Year,
Gifted from 677 donors.
73¢ SUPPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS
AND PROGRAMMING
of every dollar supports
Scholarships and Programming from 2020-2021.
$119K PURCHASED
GRADUATION REGALIA
for graduating seniors
from 2020-2022.
Over 40 years, the COD Foundation has raised more than $100 million to support student services and now manages endowments and other assets of more than $55 million. Endowment funds raised by the Foundation provide financial support for scholarships, textbooks, classroom technology upgrades, faculty positions, equipment and other programs. Yet even with the Foundation’s fundraising efforts, combined with the interest from the endowment providing this critical financial support, there still are unmet needs for thousands of students each year. A portion of all restricted donations will be used to further advance efforts on behalf of College of the Desert. For information about College of the Desert and to learn how you can support student success, contact the COD Foundation at 760.773.2561 or email Catherine Abbott, Executive Director at cabbott@collegeofthedesert.edu.
Philanthropy in Action
COD Foundation Celebrates 40 Years!
I am deeply inspired by the progress of College of the Desert Foundation and its support of the college and its students over the past 40 years. In my six-year journey with the COD Foundation, I have personally witnessed us provide valuable programs and resources that significantly changed students’ [...]
NASA Program Brings Stem & Stars to Students
The great beyond is within reach for students right here in the Coachella Valley. College of the Desert is one of five colleges in the country to receive a special grant from NASA to develop their STEM classes and engage minority students. In the Summer of 2022, COD and [...]
Childcare Empowers Single Parents to Pursue Higher Education
When Natalie Holland arrived at College of the Desert, she was a newly single mother who had just left a bad relationship. Worrying about how she and her one-year-old were going to survive, she remembers seeing various COD signs and knew this was an opportunity to build her future. [...]
COD’s Music Professor Hits All the Right Notes
Classical Guitar and Music Theory Adjunct Professor, Jesus Palominos has a love for music stems back to the cartoons he listened to as a young boy. As a visually impaired child, the animated music told a story that fascinated him. “I have a difficult time articulating how I feel, [...]
Membership Privileges
– Why Give –
Whether you are a parent, student, alumni, faculty member, business partner, philanthropist or investor, foundation or organization, part- or full-time resident, or just a fan of College of the Desert, when you step up for College of the Desert with a membership or donation you make a significant difference in higher education, career advancement and lifelong learning.
The Foundation allocated more than $1.5 million to College of the Desert last year. We depend on the private and public sectors to help underwrite underfunded programs, services and facilities that cannot be financed through other means.
In addition to assisting the College of the Desert fulfill its commitment to student success, the Foundation offers opportunities for donors fulfill their philanthropic goals.
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THANK YOU to our generous supporters
