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Give to Wayne State

Your gift, large or small, can make a difference. Your generosity supports today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders.
Graphic image rendering of the future Brandenburg Hall

Support the Brandenburg Renovation

Located in the heart of campus along Wayne State College’s main pedestrian pathway, the Brandenburg Student Success Center will create a centralized hub for academic support, career development, financial services, and student resources

Give back

Support the Cats

Empower students and change lives. Your support builds on a proud legacy of giving back to an institution that has served as a turning point for so may graduates. Donors like you help strengthen our students, faculty, and campus. We are incredibly grateful to the generous alumni, organizations, and individuals who are making a difference for Wayne State College.

 

Make a general donation

What can I support?

Private funding is necessary to enhance the learning environment and strategic initiative of Wayne State College. There are many funds or initiatives you can support through the Wayne State Foundation. 

  • Undesignated gifts to the Greatest Needs Fund, or General Fund, provide resources for operations, scholarships, capital projects, and special needs of the college.

    Make a general donation

  • Scholarship dollars are essential to students attending Wayne State College. Gifts can be made to establish a named scholarship fund, given to an existing named scholarship fund, or given to the general scholarship fund. A contract between the Foundation and donor is developed for a new named scholarship to outline how the scholarship will be awarded. The Wayne State Foundation offers two types of named scholarships:

    • Annual scholarships: Annual scholarships are awarded annually to students in the full amount that is received from the donor. A minimum of $1,000 is required for  an annual scholarship. They are active only for the time period the donor wishes to fund the scholarship.
    • Endowed scholarships: Endowed scholarships provide perpetual awards for Wayne State College students. A minimum of $25,000 is required to fund an endowed scholarship, and donors can take up to five years to reach that contribution amount. Endowment funds are invested, and only a portion of the earnings are awarded each year as scholarships.
    • RHOP endowment fund: The Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) recruits and retains the most qualified students to become health care providers in rural Nebraska. Your contribution will support the health of our state.

    Support our scholarships

  • Gifts can be made to a variety of areas in the WSC Athletic Department. Donors can choose to provide funding for athletic scholarships, athletic department operations, and for individual sports.

  • Donors can choose to direct their gifts to the School of Arts and Humanities, School of Business and Technology, School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, or the School of Science, Health, and Criminal Justice. Gifts to schools and departments can be made available for current spending, or to fund an endowment that will provide annual support in perpetuity. Donors may also choose to designate their giving to other departments on campus, such as the Conn Library, Multicultural Center, and Trio Program.

    To donate to a school or department, please specify your preferred area of giving in the description box on the general donation form.

    Make a general donation

  • Gifts for capital projects provide funding for construction or renovation of campus buildings or to purchase a major piece of equipment. Campus beautification funds are used to make improvements to the landscape of the WSC campus.

    Support our newest project, the renovation of Brandenburg Hall.

    Past projects:

    Make a general donation

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When can I give

Giving events

While gifts to the Wayne State Foundation are gladly accepted any time of the year, Wayne State observes special giving events to help promote and encourage alumni participation.
  • Phonathon - Alumni and donors can give back during the Wayne State Foundation’s annual Phonathon, which runs from January through March each year.
  • Wildcat Class Challenge - The Wildcat Class Challenge aims to create a culture of giving back to WSC among each graduating class by asking students to pledge the amount of their graduation year.
  • Giving Day - WSC Giving Day happens in April and aims to inspire all of Wildcat Nation – students, alumni, friends, faculty, and staff – to come together, show pride, and support their alma mater.

Legacy Gift by Dr. Ron Holt: Track and Field Naming

Wayne State College hosted a ceremony Sept. 25, 2025, torecognize the naming of the Wildcat Dome’s track and field after Dr. Ron Holt ’89, a major donor and former track athlete. In the words of Mike Powicki, WSC Athletic Director: “We have many people who have given generously to this project, for which we are truly thankful. As we neared the end of our fundraising efforts, Dr. Holt stepped up in a huge way with a legacy gift that helped us exceed our $5.5-million fundraising goal for this project, which was the largest in Wayne State College history. Dr. Holt, thank you.”

 

Legacy Gift by Dr. Ron Holt: Track and Field Naming

Wayne State College hosted a ceremony Sept. 25, 2025, torecognize the naming of the Wildcat Dome’s track and field after Dr. Ron Holt ’89, a major donor and former track athlete. In the words of Mike Powicki, WSC Athletic Director: “We have many people who have given generously to this project, for which we are truly thankful. As we neared the end of our fundraising efforts, Dr. Holt stepped up in a huge way with a legacy gift that helped us exceed our $5.5-million fundraising goal for this project, which was the largest in Wayne State College history. Dr. Holt, thank you.”

What can I give?

Types of donations accepted

Making a gift to the Wayne State Foundation is the best way to support the college's mission and help provide affordable education to our students. You can choose to give outright, which provides immediate support through cash, securities, or real estate donations. There are many different options available when making a charitable gift:

  • Cash or check
  • Securities or appreciated stock
  • Life insurance
  • Real estate
  • Closely held securities
  • Gifts in kind
  • Retirement plan assets - an IRA-qualified charitable distribution (QCD) or your gift can satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD). Learn more about RMDs (IRS website).

Become a member of the Wayne State Foundation Heritage Society by documenting a planned gift with us! Simply include the Wayne State Foundation in your estate plans and tell us about it. Members may name us in their wills and trusts, or as beneficiaries of their retirement plan assets or life insurance. Below you will find some options to consider and information that will be helpful in establishing a planned gift.

Planned Giving Options

  1. Bequests. Name us in a will or revocable trust (view sample bequest language)
  2. Beneficiary Designations. Name us as a beneficiary of life insurance or retirement plan assets with the following information:
    - Legal Name: Wayne State Foundation
    - Address
    - Tax ID#
  3. Life Income Gifts. These gifts result in lifetime income being paid back to the donor and assets being made available, in the future, to Wayne State College. There are two types of life income gifts: charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. Please contact the Foundation to learn more: call 402-375-7510; email [email protected]; or visit us in the Hahn Administration Building, Room 312.
  4. Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). A QCD is a distribution from an IRA directly to the Wayne State Foundation. The gift is tax-free and counts as part, or all, of a person’s RMD (if applicable), thus lowering a donor’s tax burden. Restrictions apply, so speak with your financial advisor to learn more. The following information will be useful to those desiring to make a QCD:
    - Legal Name: Wayne State Foundation
    - Address
    - Tax ID#

An endowment is a permanent investment in the future of Wayne State. Endowment funds are invested, rather than used as cash for immediate needs. The amount given by the donor (principal) is never spent. Most endowments are for scholarships, but other funds support specific college departments or even campus beautification. At the time the donor makes a gift, the Foundation prepares an agreement that documents your intended use of the fund.

Learn more about endowments

Recognizing your supportHonoring our Donors

Donor plaque and screen

Donor societies

Donor societies recognize and encourage donor support of WSC.

Foundation Service Award Recipient

Foundation Service Award

The Foundation Service Award is given to a person who has enhanced the college through dedicated service, promotion, financial support, and other efforts.

Contact us

Foundation and Alumni staff

Get in touch

Wayne State Foundation
Hahn Administration 312
Phone: 402-375-7510
Email: [email protected]

Visit the Foundation