Lake Erie College has persistently accomplished its mission, despite many challenges in its 166-year history. While much has changed, much has remained the same. Students today benefit from the same close relationships with faculty and staff that you did when you were a student.

The historic buildings on campus - such as College Hall, the Helen Rockwell Morley Memorial Music Hall - as well as “newer” spaces such as the Royce Hall for the Fine and Performing Arts provide a wonderful backdrop for students to gain real-world experiences in the context of a broad-based liberal arts education. 

Academic courses are indeed rigorous and co-curricular activities are robust, whether it’s on a field, on a stage, or in the residence halls. 

As we celebrate 166 years of incredible history, now is the time to honor the past and ensure the future of the College forever. Thus, we have launched the Now & Forever Lake Erie College campaign. 

We know in order for LEC to thrive, we must grow student enrollment and improve student retention. In order to do so, we have identified areas of need in which we are seeking donors like you to make an investment. 

We hope you will consider making a leadership gift to the Now & Forever Lake Erie College campaign.

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAYMAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY

Sampling of Funding Needs

The Now and Forever Campaign is aimed at raising funds for efforts that will increase student enrollment and improve student retention. Below is a sampling of these needs.

STUDENT RECRUITMENT EFFORTS

• New Student Scholarship Programs ($25K+)

• Virtual Tour ($25K)

• New Web Site ($125K)

• Marketing & Communication: Digital Advertising ($10K+), Billboards ($40K)

• Annual Student Scholarships (Unrestricted): Any Size Gift

STUDENT EXPERIENCE FOR RETENTION

• Student Programming Support ($5K+)

• Mental Health Service ($5K+)

• Student Competitions and Awards ($2K+)

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts ($5K+)

• New Student Orientation ($15K+)

• Classroom/Campus Technology Enhancements: Access Points, Charging Stations, etc. ($10K)

• Emergency Funds for Student Success ($1K+)

ACADEMIC INITIATIVES

• New Academic Program Development ($100K)

• Speaker Series ($25K)

• Student/Faculty Research Experiences ($10K)

• Faculty Professional Development ($5K)

• Experiential Learning: Study Abroad Experiences & Internships ($5K+)

• Major as Home ($25K)

For more information on any of these giving options, contact the Office of Alumni Relations & AdvancementOffice of Alumni Relations & Advancement at 440-375-7255 or email alumni@lec.edualumni@lec.edu.

Sampling of Naming Opportunities

Name A School

A gift of this size would name a Lake Erie College school and provide operating funding including salary support, annual programs, faculty development, and more. ($2M)

SPACES

• New Downtown Painesville Square Residence Hall ($1M)

  • 1st Floor Lounge ($100K) Restaurant/Kitchen ($100K) Workout Facility ($75K) Conference Rooms ($25K)

• Turfed Athletic Field ($1M)

• College Hall Renovated Admission and Financial Aid Suites and Office ($1M)

• EQ Hunt Field Improvements ($500K)

• Writing and Academic Learning Center ($250K)

• Academic Spaces (Labs, Classrooms) ($200K)

• Locker Rooms ($100K)

• Residence Hall Lounges ($100K)

• Conference Room ($25K)

• Faculty Office ($15K)

It is about long-term goals

Endowment is different from other fundraising because it is about long-term goals. Funding a named endowment can be your way of creating your permanent legacy to the school that made such a difference in your life. Likewise, you can choose to create a legacy in the name of a family or faculty member that has made a difference in your life.

Nancy Stillwagon '70

ENDOWED FUNDS

Endowed Chair ($1.5M)

Fund a full professorship including salary enhancement, research support, and travel.

Distinguished Professor ($1M)

Enhance salary and support professional development for a professor in your favorite discipline.

Professorship ($500K)

$25,000 awarded annually to a seasoned faculty member to support two years of professional development including participating and presenting at national conferences, scholarly research, and educational travel.

Departmental Enhancement Fund ($25K - $250K)

Gifts of this nature would support a large number and variety of departmental needs including, but not limited to, the purchase of equipment, publishing fees, faculty and student travel, and physical space improvements.

Student Life Endowment ($25K - $100K)

$1,250 to $5,000 distributed annually to support a variety of programs and services offered through the division of student life including health and wellness programs, spring break experiences, peer mentoring programs, and more.

Experiential Learning Fund ($50K)

$2,500 distributed annually to a student to encourage study abroad, a student internship, research, or service learning as part of their academic experience.

Named Unrestricted Endowment ($25K )

Endowment support to Lake Erie College to be used for greatest need as determined by the College.

Ways to Give

The campaign is designed for donors to participate in a number of ways and at all levels.

Make A Difference Now

• Unrestricted gifts are one of our most important philanthropic priorities and are used to help areas of the College where the need or opportunity is the greatest.

• Restricted gifts are designed for a specific purpose and support any number of areas, including crucial initiatives to help us grow new student enrollment and improve the retention of current students.

Invest in Forever

Endowed Gifts

You can help safeguard the future of Lake Erie College by making a gift to the endowment. Endowed gifts are invested, with the generated income used to fund the program you chose, impacting our students for generations.

You can fund a new endowment with a gift of $25,000 or greater.

Sample of ways to support the endowment:

• Unrestricted

• Student scholarships

• Endowed chairs

• Named professorships (honoring your favorite faculty member)

• Dean positions for a School

• Seminar series

• Research fellowships

• Teaching resource funds

• Faculty or student travel

• Student internships

• Classroom enhancements

• Technology funds to sustain research

• Building additions and renovations

• Programming

• Visiting Scholar in Residence

• Publications and book series

• Endowed lecture series

CREATE A LASTING LEGACY

Planned Gifts

Gifts Through Your Will or Trust

A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift to Lake Erie College as a part of your estate plan.

Other planned giving options include:

• Gifts That Pay Income – Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Gift Annuities

• Donation of Stocks/Mutual Funds

• Gifts of Life Insurance

• Gifts of Retirement Plans

• Gifts of Real Estate

Benefits:

• Receive tax benefits, such as an income tax deduction and deferral of capital gains tax.

• Support Lake Erie College students, or another area of the College you are passionate about.

• Create a lasting legacy that will be remembered and make a direct impact on the lives of our students.

For more information on any of these giving options, contact the Office of Alumni Relations & AdvancementOffice of Alumni Relations & Advancement at 440-375-7255 or email alumni@lec.edualumni@lec.edu.

MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAYMAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY

Learn More About Now & Forever, The Campaign for Lake Erie College