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 raised over $125 million over the past 40 years to support student success via program and scholarship support. In 2012, the Foundation supported the innovative EDGE program which helped institutionalize plEDGE, a program which provides free tuition and wrap around services for students attending College of the Desert.
2,556 SCHOLARSHIPS
AWARDED TOTALING $898,812
in the 2023/2024 Fiscal Year.
537 STUDENT EMERGENCY
GRANTS AWARDED
since 2020 Fund Inception.
$49M IN
ENDOWMENTS
held in perpetuity to support a variety of
scholarships and programs.
2,030(Incl. Payroll Gifts) INDIVIDUAL GIFTS
RECEIVED
in the 2023/2024 Fiscal Year,
Gifted from 498 donors including 206 new donor gifts.
84.2¢ SUPPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS
AND PROGRAMMING
of every dollar supports
Scholarships and Programming from 2023-2024.
$304,466 PURCHASED
GRADUATION REGALIA
for graduating seniors
from 2019-2024.
Over 40 years, the COD Foundation has raised more than $125 million to support student services and now manages endowments and other assets of more than $65 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 program 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
From Needs to Degrees
COD Foundation’s Transformative Role Through the Fund for Student Success I am personally thrilled by our growing number of dedicated community partners who believe in the potential of our College of the Desert (COD) students – and actively involve themselves in supporting their success. When I think about [...]
COD Launches New $5 Textbook Rental Program
Few people outside of students and their parents may realize that one textbook can cost up to $950. Particularly for students in the STEM programs, required textbooks demand high price tags. The sometimes prohibitively steep cost of these essential learning tools prompted COD’s development of the $5 Textbook Rental [...]
Breaking Down Transportation Barriers Helps Students Reach Campus Classes
College of the Desert is always working toward new means of servicing educational access for all students. In response to student transportation issues, COD launched the new Roadrunner Express in January 2024. This first-of-its-kind initiative provides a campus-to-campus shuttle service, linking all five COD campuses from Desert Hot Springs [...]
Shaping Tomorrow’s Media Leaders
KESQ, News Channel 3 and the COD Foundation have been allied partners for years. Providing an immersive experience for student interns, they learn the behind-the-scenes of media companies, the back end of production, technical camera skills and creative and news writing under a team of industry professionals. Interns also [...]
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
