Northwest College Foundation campaign exceeds goalWith the successful end of the “Toward New Vistas” fundraising campaign on June 30, Northwest College administrators and trustees were in a mood to celebrate last week.

Shelby Wetzel, executive director of the NWC Foundation, told the NWC board at its meeting that the five-year campaign raised nearly $9.14 million — $1.14 million more than the campaign's $8-million goal.

“This accomplishment is unique,” said NWC President Paul Prestwich. “There are not very many places that can accomplish something like this ... It's very gratifying to see the amount of support our community and alumni have provided to Northwest College.”

Prestwich said the campaign's original goal started at $6 million and was raised later to $8 million.

Wetzel said a total of 2,810 donors contributed money to the campaign.

She noted that the campaign proved to be timed well, coinciding with a healthy economy and the Wyoming Legislature's effort to help colleges and the University raise money by providing matching funds for an endowment account. Those funds encouraged many people to give to the campaign and the endowment with a promise of doubling the impact of their contributions.

Of the total, more than $7.3 million in donations qualified for endowment matching funds, bringing the endowment total to $14.6 million. That money will remain in the endowment account indefinitely, with the college able to use the interest earned on the account for specified purposes each year.

Donors were able to specify what they wanted their money to go toward. As a result, money donated will go toward the following purposes:

• Endowed scholarships: $5.6 million, which quadrupled the money the college can provide each year in scholarships.

• Endowed technology: $554,937, which provides money to buy needed technology at the college.

• Annual campaign: $1.8 million.

• Other endowed programs: $1.16 million.

Though thrilled with the successful end to the campaign, Wetzel and Prestwich both noted that the accomplishment doesn't mean an end to fundraising.

“We still have about $1.5 million in matching funds from the state,” Wetzel said. “We're formulating a new focus.

We believe we need to go out strong for about 9-10 months.”

Both cautioned that, if the money isn't matched this year, it may not be available next year.