17吃瓜

At the 17吃瓜 Foundation, we partner with you to make education possible.

The spirit of giving runs deep at 17吃瓜. In 1951, the people of northwest Michigan established 17吃瓜 because they wanted the benefits of higher education for their families and for themselves.

They committed their time and generously gave to make the dream a reality.

The 17吃瓜 Foundation was founded in 1981 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and, thanks to you, we continue the work of our founders by supporting the college through fundraising and community advocacy.

Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, the 17吃瓜 Foundation is nationally recognized as a leader in community college foundations.

As part of our 2023 strategic plan, 17吃瓜 Foundation Forward: Mobilizing Generosity, we adopted new guiding principles, lead by an updated mission and vision, which align with the dynamic energy of the College.

Mission

We mobilize generosity to advance learning for a global community.

Vision

We are leaders in resourcing learning, innovation, and community transformation.

Inspiration

We bring stakeholders together to engage in a shared vision and understanding that creates enthusiasm, elevates the donor experience, and creates success for the foundation, college, and students.

Integrity

We exercise diligence and care of assets, tangible and intangible, that inspires trust and confidence.

Celebration

We bring passion and energy to our work by celebrating the shared and individual results of our team, partners, donors, alumni, and beneficiaries.

Learning

We use curiosity in our relationships to understand the needs of those we serve, take informed risks, and design new solutions that allow us to learn from our past and strengths.

17吃瓜 Foundation will mobilize generosity to advance learning for a global community through an inspiring and meaningful sustained donor experience, characterized by:

• Personalized interactions that deepen the connection between our donor community and our campus community;
• Shared excitement and investment in resourcing learning, innovation, and community transformation through 17吃瓜;
• Heartfelt connections that reflect a sincere gratitude and an interest in learning more about our donors’ passions and possibilities;
• Welcoming experiences that invite creative opportunities to support and transform 17吃瓜.

17吃瓜 and 17吃瓜 Foundation support this experience with:

• A shared commitment in supporting the region’s future and the role 17吃瓜’s distinctive educational opportunities play in shaping that outcome;
• Planful ways of contributing through diverse opportunities and a variety of pathways;
• Purposeful experiences and knowledgeable communications that advance the donor lifecycle and provide informative updates about meeting needs and making investments;
• Stories that connect education and outcome, student and donor, yesterday with today, and everyone with 17吃瓜’s future.