Thanks to your unwavering support, the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation continues to enhance and enrich the educational experiences of our students. Your generosity transforms lives, strengthens families, and enriches our city.
Explore Your Impact
See how your generosity came to life during the 2024–2025 year. These materials reflect our shared commitment to transparency, accountability, and student success:
Lives Transformed: Student Voices
Atiya Goldsmith-Irby ’08
Atiya Goldsmith-Irby, Alumna, Scholarship Creator “Giving back isn’t just about money or providing housing for others; the journey is about finding…
Impact by the Numbers
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Public and Private Funding
2024/2025 Public and Private Fundraising
- $4 million raised for student success initiatives from private funders
- Black & Gold Gala netted more than $400,000
- Annual Giving (gifts under $10,000) grew 43%
- Over $10 million raised for gym renovations, teaching programs and STEM camps (public)
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Scholarships Awarded
Direct Student Impact
- 1,042 scholarships awarded totaling $1,644,824
- 258 workforce scholarships (309% increase from 63 in FY24)
- More than $1 million in faculty and program support
View our SCHOLARSHIP IMPACT REPORT HERE
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New Donors
Expanding Our Donor Community
- 351 first-time donors welcomed (36% increase from FY24)
- 428 consecutive donors for five years running
- 212 donors returned after giving gaps (23% increase)
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Emergency Funds provided
Emergency Student Support
- $491,000 in emergency funds provided (41% increase from FY24)
- 2,006 awards were given (44% increase from FY24)
- Supported books, transportation, rent, food and critical needs
View our EMERGENCY FUND IMPACT REPORT HERE
* Note: all numbers are unaudited
I donate because these scholarships are a lifeline for students… Money should never stop a talented, ambitious student from crossing that graduation stage or building a better life for themselves and their family. If I can help pass that opportunity on to another family – even in a small way – you better believe I am going to.
Amy Lewis, PhD
Associate Professor of English and Scholarship Donor
Where Your Support Makes a Difference
Scholarship Excellence
Since 2021, scholarship dollars awarded have risen by 109%, and the number of scholarships awarded have risen by 83%. This growth reflects our community’s deepening commitment to student success.
Measuring the impact of scholarship support:
- Scholarships drive student persistence: while the national average community college re-enrollment rate is 55%, 87% of CCP Foundation scholarship students re-enroll.
- Foundation scholarship recipients are three times more likely to graduate compared to all other students.
Scholarships that strengthen Philadelphia’s workforce:
- The Foundation increased support for workforce students by an extraordinary 310%, more than $483,000, rising from 63 scholarships in fiscal year 2024 to 258 in fiscal year 2025. These scholarships prepare students for high-demand careers in healthcare, technology, skilled trades, and emerging industries.
- In 2024-2025, the Hilda & Preston Davis Foundation fully funded eight Welding students ($48,000), while the Chappell Culpeper Family Foundation provided more than $133,000 to cover tuition for 14 students in CNC Precision Machining Technology and Welding.
Faculty Excellence and Workforce Innovation
More than $1 million was directed to strengthen teaching and workforce education. These funds supported an endowed faculty chair, stipends for Nursing and workforce faculty, academic and student departmental needs, faculty and student study abroad, and student support services. Investments like these ensure students learn from faculty who are not only experts in their field but also deeply engaged in advancing excellence in the classroom and beyond.
PepsiCo Uplift Scholars
In February 2025, College leaders and PepsiCo representatives recognized the 83 recipients of the 2024–2025 PepsiCo Foundation Uplift Scholarship. Through a $172,550 award, students pursuing credit degrees and certificates gained access to critical support made possible by a national initiative of the American Association of Community Colleges.
The Berkman Fund
Former CCP Foundation Director Richard L. Berkman, Esq., pledged $500,000 over 5 years to strengthen workforce instruction and student success. In year one, the Berkman Fund supported faculty fellowships in welding and electro-mechanical technology, funded 20 workforce scholarships, and provided 131 students with emergency basic needs support.
STEM and Healthcare Leadership
Nursing Scholarships
With 21 dedicated Nursing scholarships awarding a combined $96,272 this year, 97 students advanced toward careers in health care. Loyal partners like Independence Foundation and Independence Blue Cross Foundation made this possible. CCP’s Nursing program continues to excel, with 90% pass rates for first-time national licensing exam takers, and 100% job placement for graduates.
Alumni Impact
Giving back isn’t just about money or providing housing for others; the journey is about finding meaningful ways to make a difference in the lives of others.
Atiya Goldsmith-Irby ’08
Scholarship Creator
Read Atiya’s story HERE.
Our alumni strengthen Philadelphia’s workforce and give back to their communities. In 2024-2025, alumni contributed over $285,000 to support current students, demonstrating the lasting impact of a CCP education.
- 4,238 Alumni Association members
- Alumni giving nearly doubled from $155,886 in 2023-2024 to $285,153 in 2024-2025
- Number of new Alumni Association members in 2024-2025 doubled from the prior year
Strengthening Philadelphia Together: Highlights from Public and Governmental Support
In 2024, we secured over $10 million in public funding for gym renovations, teaching programs, and STEM camps, demonstrating our commitment to leveraging every resource for student success.
Public Investment Success
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Perkins Local Plan
$2,964,000
Federal funds administered through the state to strengthen Career and Technical Education programs with equipment, supplies, and salaries for wraparound services such as tutors
U.S. Navy and BlueForge Alliance Partnership
$2,760,000
A contract/grant to expand CCP’s capacity to train Philadelphians for highdemand, family-sustaining
careers in naval welding and nondestructive testing
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), PIDC Local Share
$350,000
Funding for an airport-style, walk-through metal detector system to increase campus safety
RACP (Redevelopment
Assistance Capital Program)
$500,000
Renovations to Northeast
Regional Center (NERC)
Pennsylvania Department
of Community and Economic
Development (DCED),
Solar for Schools
$500,000
A matching grant covering
half the cost of installing
photovoltaic solar arrays on
newer roofs at Main Campus
and NERC
National Science Foundation
(NSF)
$499,968
A grant to transform
biotechnology education with
a student-centered approach
designed to build a more
diverse STEM workforce
Business Investment: Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)
Pennsylvania’s EITC program enables businesses to direct their state tax dollars toward education. We’ve benefited from partnerships with Comcast NBCUniversal, Globus Medical, and Elliott-Lewis.
Dual Enrollment Programs
$100,000
Support enabling Philadelphia
high school students to earn
college credit while still in
high school
Youth Camps and
Enrichment Programs
$30,000
Funding to provide summer
and after-school learning
experiences for children and
teens
Bringing Our Community Together
Every single student that you’re investing in is going to return that investment.
Fatima Abbas ’05
Alumni Achievement Award 2025
Education transforms lives when we come together as a community. Throughout the year, we host events that connect students, alumni, donors, faculty, and community partners in celebration of our shared commitment to student success.
The Black & Gold Gala welcomed more than 300 guests and netted more than $400,000 in support of student scholarships and services on June 12, 2025. Since 2018, the event has generated more than $4 million to benefit Community College of Philadelphia students.
2025 Black & Gold Gala Platinum sponsors included Parx Casino and John Alchin and Hal Marryatt. The evening also celebrated outstanding leadership and service, honoring Fatima Abbas ’05 (Alumni Achievement Award), Susan Sherman (Community Hero Award) and Joe H. Tucker, Jr. (Corporate Leadership Award).
Building Our Foundation for the Future
The sky is really the limit. Just to be in an environment like this, it’s so inspiring, and it’s so uplifting, and it’s just really encouraging.
Julianna
Scholarship Recipient
Remarkable Growth
- 43% increase in annual giving (gifts under $10,000)
- 36% increase in first-time donors
- 23% increase in returning donors after giving gaps
Your support, whether $25 or $25,000, creates opportunities for students who might otherwise be unable to pursue their educational goals.
Reports
If you would like to download a PDF version of the 2024 – 2025 annual report, please click on the post below
2024 – 2025 IN REVIEW
For additional giving highlights, including student and donor stories, please visit our IMPACT page. 2024 – 2025 Annual Report PDF Financials Honor Roll $0Public…
If you would like to explore the impact of scholarship funding, please click on the post below
Scholarship Funding Impact
Generosity Empowering Students The Community College of Philadelphia Foundation awards scholarships that help students earn associate degrees, certificates, and workforce credentials. These…
If you would like to explore the impact of emergency needs funding, please click on the post below
Emergency Funding Impact
Generosity Meeting Students in Need Many community college students balance family, work, and coursework, with over half facing food or…
Because of your support, we see the potential of our students, and their impact on our community and city. We witness the transformative power of generosity.
Make Your Impact Today
Every gift transforms lives. Join our community of supporters who believe in the power of education to strengthen Philadelphia.
Community College of Philadelphia Foundation
1700 Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, PA 19130
foundation.ccp.edu | Phone: 215.751.8042 | Email: [email protected]