Salish Kootenai College Foundation was established in 1988 for the express purpose of supporting the College and managing an endowment that helps guarantee the future of Salish Kootenai College. The Foundation works to enhance the higher educational objectives of Salish Kootenai College through the administering of endowments & grant funds, providing scholarships to students, and supporting the future growth of the College. Today the SKC Foundation serves as the official development office for Salish Kootenai College. It is a charitable non-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Service 501©(3) designations. A seventeen-member Board of Trustees maintains fiduciary responsibility for the Foundation. The Foundation staff and Trustees work with the College leaders to set priorities for development, build and maintain relationships with donors, and steward private assets.
Donations made through the Foundation provide funding for scholarships, buildings and facilities, faculty positions, academic programs, SKC Library, KSKC Television, and athletics.
SKC Mission Statement
The Mission of Salish Kootenai College is to provide quality postsecondary educational opportunities for Native Americans locally and throughout the United States. The college will strive to provide opportunities for individual self-improvement to promote and help maintain the cultures of the Confederated Tribes of the Flathead Nation.
The SKC Foundation works as a catalyst for change and opportunity. It has been dedicated to building the future of Salish Kootenai College. The Foundation builds private financial support for SKC through responsible stewardship of donated funds, sponsorship of student scholarships, college enhancement programs and capital dollars to build new facilities.
Salish Kootenai College Foundation was formed for the purposes of:
- To administer the endowment and grant funds of the Salish Kootenai College, Inc., an institution of higher learning located at Pablo, Montana for the benefit of the college and the students thereof.
- To award scholarships to deserving students on a non-discriminatory basis who attend the Salish Kootenai College, Inc.
- To make grants to Salish Kootenai College, Inc. which, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, will advance the higher educational objectives of Salish Kootenai College, Inc.
- To receive and maintain a fund or funds of real and personal property or both, and subject to the restrictions and limitations hereinafter set forth, to use and apply the whole or any part of the income there from and the principal thereof exclusively for the educational and charitable purposes herein stated, either directly or by contributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 509 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and its regulations, as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended.
Salish Kootenai College has experienced great growth over the years and the Foundation has made every effort to provide assistance and support. Since 1995, the College has expanded the library, added a fine arts facility and a cultural center. Over more recent years the College has expanded the 80-acre campus to a 128-acre campus to include the math and science building, a performing arts theatre and physical fitness center. With each of these additions, the SKC Foundation has made financial contributions to help with the construction. As the College continues to grow, the SKC Foundation will work to provide further support for the construction and expansion of Salish Kootenai College.
All Contributions and gifts made to the Foundation are invested for the future of the institution. All donations to the Foundation are kept separate from the college operating funds. Restricted gifts are channeled to areas of the donor’s choice, while unrestricted gifts are allocated to areas of greatest need determined by the college and the Foundation Board of Trustees.
During the year, the Foundation represents the college at various civic activities and is heavily involved in grant development from both the private and public sector. The main objectives include:
1. Expand the level of institutional and financial resources available to SKC.
2. Ensure that grant proposals fall within the institution’s role and mission.
3. Ensure that grant proposals focus on improving the quality of the educational offerings.
4. Secure gifts, grants, bequests and other forms of support.
5. Conducting public relations programs with Alumni, students, faculty, government entities, the business community, and the general public and other appropriate groups.
6. Managing the assets of the Foundation in accordance with its purpose and fiduciary responsibilities
7. Awarding scholarships on a non-discriminatory basis to deserving students who attend Salish Kootenai College.
To carry out the short and long-term goals identified in the mission statement and strategic plan, the Foundation office is busy with a wide range of activities and promotional efforts. This includes projects related to faculty, staff, students, curriculum, construction, youth, the community, culture, language, alumni and history.
Each year, the Foundation identifies key focus points for development. Following this plan we then address the needs of the programs, whether it is assisting with a youth camp or seeking financial support for language preservation. With a vision to the future, the Foundation strives to help the college grow in a healthy, positive fashion. This office oversees public relations with the local community, state, region, and country. The Foundation sends out press releases, coordinates television and radio advertisements, participates in the local chamber of commerce and is active with numerous community events. Each year we put together the President’s Report. Through our office a complete record of alumni is maintained and the SKC Alumni Newsletter distributed.
Another key responsibility of the foundation is the promotion and funding of scholarships for SKC students. To this effort, the SKC Foundation raises money through special activities each year to help with the overall scholarship program. Our special activities are the Annual Gala & Auction, a golf tournaments, and annual luncheon. All activities are annual events in which the surrounding communities take part in raising funds for scholarships. The Annual Gala and Auction takes place in the spring while the SKC Annual Golf Tournament take place in late spring and early summer.
At this time the Foundation maintains more than twenty (20) endowed scholarships that are awarded annually. These scholarships are important to the college as well as the students and often mean the difference between staying or leaving school. The college has an internal selection process that involves a review board and general application packet. Each quarter the college works to ensure that as many students get the scholarship support as qualify.
