BTC Foundation
Welcome
The mission of the BTC Foundation is to change lives by expanding access to quality education for the students of Bellingham Technical College.
We could not fulfill our mission without the generosity of individuals and organizations in our community. Last year donations to the Foundation totaled more than one million dollars. Those gifts touched every aspect of student life on campus, from helping pay tuition in the form of scholarships, to providing vital equipment for programs, to filling campus food pantries, and much more.
A Message of Thanks
We are disappointed that we were unable to host our scholarship breakfast this fall. We invite you to view a message of gratitude from a few of our 2020-21 scholarship recipients in the Virtual Scholarship Celebration Video.
How You Can Help
Your donation to BTC puts people to work right here—and elevates the entire region.
Watch this short video to see what it means to students and donors to give and receive scholarships.
Our donors are diverse, but share a common goal: to see BTC students succeed and prosper. As a BTC Foundation donor, you can help change a student’s life and contribute to a stable, vibrant and prosperous community.
What is Needed
Scholarships and Endowments
No matter what their background, BTC students have a common goal: to create better lives by achieving their academic goals.
In the past few years, students’ financial hardships have increased, while state funding has substantially decreased. More students than ever are applying for limited scholarship dollars.
We can’t do it without you. The BTC Foundation offers several ways to help students through scholarships (any gift can be made in-full or installments):
Named Annual Scholarship - Minimum gift: $1,000
Honor a loved one, establish a legacy or celebrate success. A named annual scholarship creates a personal connection between BTC students and an individual, business, or organization. Donors may specify award criteria to reflect values and objectives.
Endowed Scholarship - Minimum gift: $25,000
Make a lasting difference in the lives of BTC Students. An endowment requires a minimum gift of $25,000, which may be pledged over several years. Created through a bequest, charitable remainder trust, existing life insurance policy, or current gifts, an endowment is the best way to ensure your gift honors your passions and values, and lives on in perpetuity. Each year, 4 percent of the fund balance is awarded to a BTC student, allowing the fund to continue growing.
General Scholarship Fund - Minimum gift: any size
This is easiest way to transform a BTC student’s life. Individuals, businesses, and organizations may donate any amount to our General Scholarship Endowment or Annual Scholarship funds.
Program Support
Your cash donation can help strengthen your profession and your community by training the next generation of skilled workers. Program funds allow BTC to quickly respond to industry innovations and changing demands through curriculum revision, equipment purchases, or student and faculty development. Just be sure to tell us which program you want to support.
Donations of new or used equipment: BTC instruction is hands-on. In our labs, hundreds of students get real-world experience and learn to safely practice their trade—and they wear out the equipment. Your gift can keep a lab fully equipped and functional, improving the quality of student education. Please contact us regarding your “in-kind” gift of equipment or materials.
Greatest Need
Unrestricted donations are vital to what we do! Large or small, the flexibility of unrestricted donations provides critical support for BTC students, and moves us closer to meeting our goals of student access, success, and retention, through:
- Emergency funding
- Campus food pantries
- Support for Veterans, High School Completion, and other student populations
- Purchasing equipment and classroom materials
- Meeting ordinary and unexpected expenses
- Improving faculty access to program research and development
Click How to donate to give: Cash or assets - Equipment or materials.
Who We Are
Building a strong and vibrant community is everyone’s job.
Our work is led by a volunteer Board of Directors and governed by BTC's Board of Trustees. We are grateful for their dedication and for that of the faculty and staff who make a difference in the lives of our students every day.
Info for Students
The Foundation serves BTC students by awarding scholarships and endowments, funding campus food pantries, emergency grants, student clubs, program equipment, class trips, and campus events. Go to the Information for Students page to see how the Foundation can support you.
Info for Donors
Ways To Give
Gifts of cash are always needed, but there are many ways to contribute to BTC! No matter your stage in life or your ability to contribute, there is a gifting type that will suit you. With the exception of purchased goods, gifts to the Bellingham Technical College Foundation are tax-deductible*.
Pay now with a credit card
We receive approximately 97% of your credit card donation after fees are assessed by the bank. Please consider adding 3% to your gift to help offset this additional cost. To avoid bank fees, we welcome payment by cash or check.
Mail a check
Thank you for your support!
The Bellingham Technical College Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity or expression, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, marital status or genetic information in its programs, awarding of scholarships and/or other activities.
* Bellingham Technical College Foundation's Federal Tax ID Number: 91-1658027. This represents a 501 (c)(3) tax exemption status granted by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. The following fees will be deducted to support our Greatest Need Fund and to further fundraising efforts on behalf of Bellingham Technical College. Gifts to endowments will be assessed a 1% annual management fee based on the fair market value of the endowment at fiscal year-end (June 30th). All other gifts (with the exception of unrestricted, in-kind donations and those with differing agreements) will be assessed a one-time 5% administrative fee.
Info for Employees
Useful forms for employees:
Equipment and material donation form
Professional development request
Campus project grant request
Fundraising activity request
Refreshment reimbursement request
Foundation Scholarships
More Info
The Bellingham Technical College Foundation was established in 1987 as a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation. We began with just a handful of board members, dedicated to student success. Since then, the foundation has helped thousands of students achieve their career goals through education. Since hiring our first staff members in 1997, the Foundation has played an increasing role in supporting BTC’s pursuit of larger organizational goals.
Select a heading below to learn more.
Community Report
Learn more about BTC's students, programs, and donation opportunities through our annual report.
Alumni
An active and engaged group of alumni is vital to BTC. We encourage our alumni to stay involved by serving on advisory committees, attending campus events, mentoring, volunteering and donating to support BTC and Foundation initiatives.
It is our hope to keep BTC alumni connected to the college by providing ongoing information about Bellingham Technical College and specific news/information about their graduating program. We plan to do this through alumni-specific newsletters as well as an annual alumni event on campus reconnecting former students with their peers and faculty.
If you are a BTC alumnus, please volunteer to serve on an advisory committee, join us at our biennial Foundation Gala, or contribute to our Scholarship or Program funds.
Hours & Contacts
Regular Hours
BTC is operating remotely - email and calls only
Mon to Fri: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sat-Sun Closed