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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.

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.

    You can still support our newest project, the Athletic and Recreation Complex.

    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.
  • Senior Gift Challenge - The Senior Gift Challenge aims to create a culture of giving back to WSC among each graduating senior 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.
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Each year I choose to contribute to a scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Kent Blaser. During my time at WSC, Dr. Blaser went out of his way to assist me in achieving my scholastic goals. We choose to give back to Wayne State because we are thankful for the opportunities the college provided us.

Eric Knutson, '09

Attorney at Knutson Law

 
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WSC Alumni Eric Knutson
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Each year I choose to contribute to a scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Kent Blaser. During my time at WSC, Dr. Blaser went out of his way to assist me in achieving my scholastic goals. We choose to give back to Wayne State because we are thankful for the opportunities the college provided us.

quote marks
WSC Alumni Eric Knutson

Eric Knutson, '09

Attorney at Knutson Law

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).

Planned giving is a technique that helps you maximize the personal benefits of your charitable giving, allowing you to make gifts you thought were well beyond your abilities. This can be achieved by following the tax laws and benefiting from charitable tax deductions. By making a planned gift, you can also become a member of the Wayne State Foundation Heritage Society. The following avenues of giving can be tailored to meet your specific financial and philanthropic needs.

  • Bequest in will or trust (view sample bequest language)
  • Life insurance
  • Charitable remainder trust
  • Charitable lead trust
  • Retirement plan assets - an IRA-qualified charitable distribution (QCD) or your gift can satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution (RMD).

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