The Independent College Fund of North Carolina (ICFNC), the fundraising arm of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) received $2 million in cash and in-kind donations during its annual campaign which ended April 30, 2023.
The iBELONG MALE MENTORING PROGRAMSM received additional funding this year from Wells Fargo which has allowed the program to include four additional campuses and for expansion beyond two years. Sponsorships also allowed NCICU to provide an iBELONG Student Conference and Career Workshop hosted at Livingstone College. The iBELONG program is designed to increase the persistence, retention, and graduation rates of male students of color.
Program funds also support NCICU’s annual Ethics Bowl and numerous administrative group workshops provided each year for the 36 colleges and universities under the NCICU umbrella. This year, in addition to event sponsors, all Ethics Bowl campus teams were sponsored.
“This year we are seeing a greater connection between students and the corporate community through programmatic funding,” said ICFNC director, Colleen Kinser. “We are excited to see where these relationships will lead in terms of internships and careers. Thanks to the support of generous donors, NCICU will continue to administer student enrichment programs that address the significant challenges employers are facing in recruiting and retaining a diverse domestic and global workforce.”
A continued focus on raising scholarship funds will help students pursue their educational goals during the 2023-24 academic year. The donors have contributed to the following scholarships during this campaign:
These include:
- Albemarle Foundation
- Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund Scholarship
- Broyhill Family Foundation Scholarship
- CIC/UPS Education Endowment Scholarship
- Clancy & Theys Scholarship
- Dominion NC Power Scholarship
- ICFNC Advisory Board Corporate Scholarship
- Jeff and Jan Stoddard Scholarship for Hope
- North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association Criminal Justice Scholarship
- Thomas & Ashley Varnadore Scholarship of Optimism in Future Generations
The $2 million raised also includes funds for the newly established STAR Scholarship. The Student Teacher Assistance for Retention (STAR) Scholarship will help fill the shrinking teacher pipeline as students are developed into professional educators. The funds will provide financial support to college seniors who are enrolled in an educator preparation program (EPP) with priority given to students of color to increase diversity in the classroom.
In-kind support was received from Google Ad Grants and from SAS.