College of the Desert Alumni Association was chartered in 1983. The mission and goals
of the Association are to enhance the success of COD students and to enrich the campus
environment. The Association provides scholarships for students who plan to attend
or who are now attending COD; provides recognition of alumni, students, community
leaders, faculty and staff; creates awareness of the value of higher education and
COD through collaborative efforts; and provides financial support for the enhancement
of COD facilities, programs, faculty, and staff.
The Alumni Association annually budgets over $270,000 in scholarships and student
financial aid which are awarded to college, high school and middle school students.
The Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund now totals in excess of $700,000. The Alumni
Association Academic Enrichment Endowment Fund of $1,000,000 has been completed. The
Alumni Association operates the popular year-round Street Fair. Membership is open
to alumni, students, staff, and the community. For more information call (760) 636-7958.
College of the Desert Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose
is to provide financial support from the private and public sectors to help underwrite
those programs and facilities at the College which cannot be funded through other
means. The Foundation Board and committees are composed of community leaders who volunteer
to work with college staff to support the college's specific needs, present and future.
Donations to the COD Foundation can be of any size and may be designated to a particular
department or project. Estate planning information is available for wills, bequests,
and charitable trusts. For more information call (760) 773-2561, or go the foundation
website at www.codfoundation.org.
Members serve as goodwill ambassadors and organize special events for the College. Membership dues have been set at $50 per year or $500 for a life membership. The Foundation Auxiliary annually provides financial support to a wide variety of College programs. For more information call (760) 346-3363, or go to their website at www.codfoundation.org.
The primary purpose of the President’s Circle is to support excellence in education
and to encourage greater individual involvement with the College.
The Circle is composed of concerned citizens who make an annual contribution of $1,000
or more to the Foundation. A one-time gift of $10,000 or more entitles a donor to
lifetime membership. The Gold Partners is the title given to generous donors who contribute
$5,000 annually. For more information call (760) 773-2561.
The Friends of the Library is a dedicated group that supports the College’s Palm Desert Campus library. The Desert Collection Bibliography, focusing on the uniqueness of the region, is regularly updated by the Friends with new and rare books. For more information about Friends of the Library call (760) 776-7299.