Make a Difference Today!

Your INVESTMENT in the College of Charleston Fund allows unrestricted dollars to impact every student and the College’s greatest needs.

Annual unrestricted gifts are the backbone of private support for the College of Charleston.  Gifts to the CofC Fund provide student scholarships, support teaching and research, fund special student programming, and attract some of the country's top scholars and innovators. Annual fund gifts also support current operations and are critical in meeting the day-to-day needs of the College. Gifts to the CofC Fund are solicited annually.

Making a gift is easy, just call 843-953-7362, or make a secure gift online, at ia.cofc.edu/givingtocofc.htm.

-Thank You for MAKING A DIFFERENCE in the lives of our students.

How does the Campaign work?
We begin our 2008 Faculty & Staff Campaign during the fall to allow everyone time to make their pledges before January 1, 2008. This allows you to break your gift up into as many as 24 payroll deductions. All those who wish to make a one time gift or pay by check or credit card can do so by turning in their gift or pledge for the 2008 Campaign beginning in January 2008.

NOTE: Any cash, check, credit or debit gifts received before December 31, 2007 will count towards the 2007 Campaign. 

* If you want to pay by check or credit/debit card, please turn in after January 1, 2008 to count towards 2008 Campaign.

There are 3 ways to give to the Faculty/Staff Drive:

•  payroll deduction (Turn in by December 1, 2007 to have 24 payroll deductions in 2008.)

•  check or cash (Make checks payable to "College of Charleston Foundation.")*

•  VISA, MASTERCARD, or AMERICAN EXPRESS

Where are the funds used and how do they benefit not only the College but employees as well?
Gifts to the College of Charleston Fund support not only student scholarships, programming and buildings & facilities projects, but also pays a portion of each employee’s life insurance policy and provides professional development & training opportunities for both faculty & staff. Employees are also able to donate to their department or fund of choice.

To view the list of funds for 2008, please click here.

To print a 2008 pledge card, click here

If you have any questions regarding these funds, please contact the Annual Giving Office at 843-953-7743.

Please encourage everyone in your department to participate in the 2008 Campaign. All gifts make a tremendous difference.

Parent Advisory Council members are a special group of parents who share their time and energy with the College by setting goals and asking fellow parents to participate in the College of Charleston Fund. They also provide parents, President Benson, and campus representatives with the opportunity to advise one another on issues that are of concern to College of Charleston families.

Members meet twice a year to discuss such topics as academics, admissions, career development, financial aid, fundraising, special events and student life. They also sponsor Family Matters, a newsletter sent out annually to all parents informing them of various items of concern that they might not otherwise know about.

The Parent Leadership Drive is driven by the Parent Advisory Council who seek unrestricted gifts for the College of Charleston Fund from other parents. This drive provides over $100,000 annually for scholarships, faculty/staff research and development, community outreach and other areas that directly benefit students.

The enthusiasm and commitment of these volunteers fuels not only the continuing succcess of the Fund, but also the positive relationship between the College of Charleston and the parents who have entrusted us with their sons and daughters.

To find out more about the Council, please Cathy Mahon at (843) 953-5432 or mahonc@cofc.edu.

Students are at the heart of the College of Charleston Fund. They are the primary beneficiaries of the Fund and in a better position than nearly anyone else to appreciate the every day difference that the programs, building projects, scholarships, and faculty support facilitated by the Fund make in their College experience. It is a priority of the College to get these current students in contact with alumni, parents, and friends that have made a difference in their lives. The Cougar Calling Center is the place where we make this happen.

The Cougar Calling Center is located on the second floor of the BellSouth building on the corner of St. Philip and Calhoun Streets. It is a place where College of Charleston students of all different years and majors come together and place telephone calls to parents and alumni in an attempt to keep in touch and gain support of the College's current needs. Every parent and alumni receives one phone call per year from a current student. Contact information is updated and news is shared about what is happening at the College, from new building projects to new restaurants downtown, providing a unique opportunity for two-way communication. Students also often learn a great deal from the people they are calling about life after college and the relationship between a degree and a career.

These phone calls provide a vital source of support coming into the College of Charleston Fund. Many people find it extremely rewarding to have the opportunity to interact with a student who will be affected by their gift, and also find these calls to be an excellent way to get direct answers to any questions they may have about the Fund and the College.

We enjoy this opportunity to share the excitement of our students about the College and look forward to talking with you this year!

Scholarships open the doors of possibility for students who otherwise might not be able to afford a CofC education. In fact, over 50% of the CofC Fund directly supports student scholarships. Named Annual Scholarships are designed to encourage scholarship gifts at annual levels of $2,500 or more for at least a four-year period.

Student Selection

Annual Scholarships are awarded to talented students who have demonstrated financial need. Scholarships established during a fiscal year (January- December) are awarded the following academic year. For example, a student will be awarded the following fall.

Benefit to Our Donors

Annual scholarship donors can name their scholarships after themselves or in memory or honor of another. The nature of these scholarships does not, however, allow donors to place restrictions or conditions on the award process. By funding an annual scholarship you, too, can help a student realize the College of Charleston dream.

For more information on investing in an Annual Scholarship, please contact Lindsey Ballenger, BallengerL@cofc.edu, or 843-953-7361.