Role of NSCC Foundation in the funding ecosystem
NSCC Foundation is the registered charitable foundation of Nova Scotia Community College, dedicated to mobilizing philanthropy in support of student success. Working with individual donors, alumni, companies and community partners, it transforms contributions into direct financial assistance for NSCC students across the province’s 14 campuses.
The Foundation’s fundraising priorities span several key themes: student awards and learning, cost of living supports, entrepreneur and career readiness, and investments in campuses, communities and culture, along with targeted capital and special campaigns. Through these priorities, it helps make education more accessible and equitable, strengthens learning environments and supports students’ transition into the workforce.
Types of funding and supports
At the core of the Foundation’s activity is NSCC’s student awards program, which offers a wide range of scholarships, awards and bursaries to support access to education, recognize academic achievement and celebrate leadership. Donors can contribute to existing awards or create new, named bursaries to focus their impact on specific fields of study or student communities. In 2022–2023, 2,825 awards and bursaries totalling over $3 million in support were distributed to students, illustrating the scale of this financial aid.
The Foundation also channels funding into cost of living supports that respond to rising expenses facing students. Donor-backed initiatives such as Rapid Response, Urgent Aid, NSCC Emergency Housing and projects addressing food insecurity provide short-term relief and crisis support, helping learners stay enrolled and focused on their studies. Additional funds enhance learning by supporting opportunities outside the classroom, enabling students to apply skills in real-world settings.
Publics served and overall impact
NSCC Foundation serves a diverse student population across Nova Scotia, including refugees, equity-deserving groups, Black and African Nova Scotian learners, and students balancing school with significant financial pressures. Stories highlighted on the site show how targeted bursaries and awards can remove barriers, open new career paths and help students and alumni contribute back to their communities.
Guided by a strategic plan centred on community, connection and commitment, the Foundation positions itself as a strategic entity of the College. It stewards relationships and leverages resources to create an educational journey that is equitable, safe and accessible, while maintaining trust with donors through transparent impact reporting such as annual reports on giving.