This is an exciting time across the Maricopa Community Colleges District and for the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF). As we celebrate our students, community and team, we are reminded that the work we do together creates opportunities and helps make higher education dreams a reality.
Like so many across our District, we are recognizing the academic achievements of our graduates and scholarship recipients and are honored to take part in the moments that help shape their futures. We’re also excited to share updates and milestones from our own MCCF team.
Here are a few recent highlights:
- A welcome reception was held to celebrate Julie Dunnigan joining the MCCF family as President & CEO. Hosted by LeRoy and Nancy Gaintner, the evening highlighted MCCF’s continued growth and our shared commitment to removing barriers to higher education. Additionally, Julie recently participated at a ceremony honoring recipients of the Chancellor, MCCF and Dougherty Foundation scholarships.
- Nilam Patel, MCCF’s Chief Development Officer, was accepted into the Maricopa Leadership – Actualizing Leadership Program, which recognizes emerging and current leaders across the District. In addition, Nilam recently participated in a forum with MCCF partner QTS focused on strengthening Arizona’s data center talent pipeline by preparing skilled technicians for the workforce.
- Fiscal Director, Zack Jenner, will be serving as a Staff Representative for the FY2026-2028 term. In this role, Zack will join other leaders across the District as an advocate for staff, with a focus on speaking with a unified voice.
- Alfredo Hernandez has joined the MCCF team as Development Officer Senior and Bill Nestman joins us as as Fiscal Specialist Senior.
Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy that supports research into America’s most pressing problems and evidence-based solutions to solve them, awarded Maricopa Community Colleges and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation a multi-year, $16 million grant to help more students earn a degree or transfer to a partner institution. Arnold Ventures’ investment marks the largest single contribution made by a philanthropic organization in the system’s history. Funding will support the launch of Commit2Completion at three colleges: Glendale Community College, Phoenix College, and Scottsdale Community College, with plans to expand the program across the system’s 10 colleges.
“Maricopa’s launch of Commit2Completion represents exactly the kind of high-value investment the field needs—one that intentionally connects students to programs with strong labor market returns and provides the comprehensive support required to actually get them across the finish line,” said Kelly McManus, Executive Vice President of Education for Arnold Ventures. “Too often, higher education systems focus on access without ensuring completion, but this effort is grounded in a clear commitment to helping far more students earn credentials of real value at scale. Building on years of rigorous evidence—including our long-standing investment in evaluating and replicating the ASAP model—we’re excited to see Maricopa bring this proven approach to a large, diverse district and demonstrate what it takes to deliver durable, high-ROI outcomes for students.”
Three years ago, alongside our ten Maricopa Community Colleges, we launched EmpowerED for Student Success with a shared belief: tomorrow needs us today. Today, we are closer than ever to reaching our ambitious $20 million goal.
But time is running short. As the end of June approaches, your support is more important than ever.
Together, we have already helped remove financial barriers and created opportunities for students across our community. But our work is not finished and we need to keep the momentum going.
Please support the campaign today and provide immediate funding for:
- Scholarships and stipends
- Basic needs assistance
- Workforce development opportunities
- Innovative programs
We are in the final stretch and every donation brings us closer to fully realizing this vision for every student to not only succeed, but to thrive.
Learn more at mcccdf.org/empowered.
This past May, the Maricopa Community Colleges conferred more than 18,400 degrees and certificates across it’s 10 colleges, including approximately 350 bachelor’s degrees, from eight programs.
The Class of 2026 will make an immediate impact in some of the state’s most critical industries. More than 90% of students enrolled across the system are Arizona residents. They will step into vital roles such as nurses, teachers, skilled trades professionals, and advanced manufacturing technicians, among many others.
For the vast majority of Maricopa Community Colleges students, 93% graduate and enter the job market debt-free thanks to grants, scholarships, and free and low-cost textbooks.
It’s not often that we get to see that moment of joy when students are notified that they’ve received a scholarship to fulfill their dreams of higher education. However, we recently had the opportunity to do so when two students were selected for the 26th cohort of the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars Program.
Check out these heartwarming videos of students Cheyenne and Symone as they were told of their awards. Both students, sharing the moment with their support systems, personify just how much of an impact contributions make in effecting the trajectory of the lives of students across our community.
The Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars Program provides an opportunity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to obtain the resources and financial assistance needed to successfully complete their education by covering full tuition, fees, books/supplies and a living stipend. The program also provides academic, peer and alumni mentors to support students in their journey.
Since 1977, the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation has helped make post-secondary education and certifications accessible and affordable by strengthening our communities through innovative, strategic partnerships that support the growth and success of the Maricopa Community Colleges, its students, faculty and staff.
We offer a variety of ways to get involved, including:
- Scholarships and Programs
- Planned Giving
- Employee Giving
- Matching Gifts
- Vehicle Donations
- Non-Cash Gifts
- Third-Party Loyalty Programs
- Volunteer Scholarship Reviewers
Please visit mcccdf.org/ways-to-give to learn more about how your support helps remove barriers to higher education and creates opportunities for success throughout our community.
