North Dakota Higher Education Challenge
Become a “power giver,” and make your gift 50 percent stronger with match funds!
The state of North Dakota will contribute one dollar of matching funds for every two gift dollars given or pledged before December 31, 2022.
Powering Scholarships
LRSC scholarships make powerful impacts on the lives of students when they
- honor academic accomplishments,
- recognize leadership and learning excellence,
- encourage enrollment in innovative programs,
- help students stay focused on learning,
- provide safety nets when the unexpected happens, and
- make education more affordable.
Powering Programs
Program enhancements help when they
- encourage faculty to dream bigger,
- empower leaders to seek new solutions to challenges,
- allow faculty to update and add equipment,
- provide opportunities for professional growth,
- help LRSC attract and retain talented educators,
- reward creativity,
- encourage student-focused classroom innovation,
- form collaboration between departments, and
- create synergy.
- Our state legislature established a pool of $350,000 for Lake Region State College to claim by raising $700,000 in gifts and pledges from private sources.
- The North Dakota Higher Education Challenge Match gives priority to gifts for scholarships and gifts that strengthen academic programs.
- Gifts of stock/real estate and irrevocable gift bequests may also be accepted and matched.
- Gift and pledge commitments must be made by December 31, 2022, to qualify for a match. Pledges may extend for 5 years.
- Challenge Match funds are awarded when the gift or pledge is made.
- LRSC’s foundation—Community College Foundation—becomes responsible if a pledge is not paid.
Note: In addition, North Dakota tax-payers also qualify for a 40-percent tax credit for gifts to permanent endowments managed by the Community College Foundation. Individuals must gift $5,000 in a tax year to qualify for the credit. Please visit with a financial advisor or legal counsel to see if your gift qualifies.
Background: The 66th North Dakota Legislative Assembly appropriated funding to enhance the North Dakota University System through a matching grant fund. The North Dakota Higher Education Challenge Fund is intended to ignite a philanthropic spirit to support North Dakota colleges and universities. The State Board of Higher Education shall award one dollar in matching grants for every two dollars of non-state, non-federal dollars raised by the institutional foundations of North Dakota colleges and universities for projects dedicated to the advancement of academics. Distributions of grant awards will be made based upon review and approval by the legislatively prescribed grant review committee.
For more information, call Elonda Nord at (701) 665-4639.