College Board Hires New Foundation

On a split vote, Ventura County community college trustees narrowly approved hiring an independent foundation to administer monetary and other donations not earmarked for a specific campus.

Three governing board members voted to contract with the Ventura County Community Foundation to administer donations to the district not specified for Moorpark, Oxnard or Ventura colleges.

But two trustees voted against the proposal at last week’s meeting, saying they felt that the foundations at each of the three campuses did not need the competition.

“I seriously question whether anyone would give to the district,” said trustee John D. Tallman, who voted against the proposal. “They’d rather give to the colleges.”

But a majority of board members disagreed, saying the new foundation would allow for better control over the finances.

“It would be one place to have all their funds accounted for,” board President Timothy D. Hirschberg said.

Kate McLean, president of the nonprofit Ventura County Community Foundation, administers more than 90 endowment funds throughout the county. The money is available to the groups upon request. Trustee Allan W. Jacobs said there are always people willing to donate to higher education in general, and they may not have a specific campus in mind when they choose to make a gift.

“I don’t see it impinging on the ability of the colleges” to raise money, Jacobs said.