Home2022-01-23T14:09:08-07:00

Student Success Support Programs

Student Emergency Fund
Workforce Development
Fund for Student Success
plEDGE
(tuition-free education)
Fund for the Future

Foundation Stories

Real Experiences. Real Stories. Real College of the Desert.
  • Bill Chunowitz: College Education Benefits All

    As Bill Chunowitz sees it, College of the Desert’s success is the Coachella Valley’s success. That is why he and his wife, Joanne, have been ardent supporters of the College since 2014. “Most of the students end up staying here and working after graduation, so everybody wins,” said Chunowitz, president [...]

  • Cynthia Williams’ Pledge Aids Student Emergency Fund

    As our community continues to confront the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, College of the Desert students who are in urgent need of help with food, rent, childcare and more have been able to get relief from the Student Emergency Fund. Many students at College of the Desert and their [...]

Become a Member

President’s Circle
Academic Angels
Legacy Leaders
Giving Guide

Latest News & Events

College of the Desert Foundation Partners with Leadership Coachella Valley in an Effort to Foster the Next Generation of Leaders

For the first time in its lengthy history, Leadership Coachella Valley is partnering with the College of the Desert Foundation to help dedicated and knowledgeable College of the Desert students develop their personal and professional skills, while building strong relationships with other community leaders. Learning to Lead is a newly created program designed to offer College of the Desert students the unique opportunity of participating in Leadership Coachella Valley’s 10-month leadership program, giving them real world application and insight into the issues our region is facing today and well into the future. Kicking off the pilot program will be four College of the Desert students. Each will be selected through a competitive application process and will have their enrollment fees paid for as well as be awarded a $1,000 scholarship upon completion of the course. Financial support and guidance will come from the Academic Angels Committee, a group of [...]

MacKenzie Scott Foundation Gifts $18 Million to College of the Desert

College of the Desert has received $18 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest one-time grant in the College’s 60+ year history. In her virtual announcement, MacKenzie Scott stated; Because community-centered service is such a powerful catalyst and multiplier, we spent the first quarter of 2021 identifying and evaluating equity-oriented non-profit teams working in areas that have been neglected. The result was $2,739,000,000 in gifts to 286 high-impact organizations in categories and communities that have been historically underfunded and overlooked. Higher education is a proven pathway to opportunity, so we looked for 2- and 4-year institutions successfully educating students who come from communities that have been chronically underserved. “At College of the Desert we also recognize that higher education is a pathway to opportunity, and we have made a substantial investment in our EDGE/plEDGE program to support that opportunity for our community,” said Interim Superintendent/President Jeff Baker. “This amazing donation [...]

Join Our Email List

THANK YOU to our generous supporters
Go to Top