Nevada State College’s coffers flush with big-time donations

When Nevada State College opened its doors at an empty vitamin factory 13 years ago, school leaders worked with a shoestring budget of paltry state funding and empty promises from community leaders who vowed to give more.

Today, the school whose meager beginnings made many doubt its survival has become flush with donations from big-name philanthropic groups. Money has poured in so fast that all three NSC fundraising campaigns have outpaced their goals.

The donations represent a massive boost in funding — the gifts add up to $19.1 million so far — for a school of 3,500 students whose budget totals $41 million.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Provost Erika Beck said. “We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to achieve. This is a clear stamp of approval.”

NSC leaders announced Wednesday that the school has raised $16.8 million since beginning its first fundraising initiative two years ago — dramatically topping its initial goal of reaching $10 million by June 30.

Some of that money has been put toward scholarships and academic programs, though the school can spend it however it chooses.

Another campaign launched in March has garnered $800,000 of the $2 million goal it seeks for scholarships within a year. A third effort launching Jan. 1 aims to raise $6 million, and donors already have promised to give $1.5 million toward that project.

“It’s an endorsement of the work that’s being done at Nevada State,” said Glenn Christenson, chairman of the Nevada State College Foundation. “I think the success of the campaign is also a reflection that our economy is coming back. People feel more comfortable making donations, and they like the things that we’re doing at Nevada State.”

The college has drawn financial gifts from high-profile donors such as the Jim Rogers Foundation, the Elaine P. Wynn &Family Foundation, Cox Communications and Nevada Energy. Christenson said he hopes their awards will lure more money from other potential donors.

NSC was added in 2002 to the Nevada System of Higher Education as a four-year school. Part of its mission is to provide underserved student populations with access to bachelor’s degrees. Nearly half of its students are first-generation, nontraditional college students.

The college has always enjoyed steady enrollment hikes — student attendance has ballooned from 176 students in 2002 to 3,549 in 2014, according to recent statistics.

State funding, meanwhile, has not kept pace. Between 2009 and 2012, when enrollment grew by 45 percent, lawmakers slashed funding by 50 percent as Nevada weathered a devastating economic recession.

“What (early school leaders) did was amazing,” said finance boss Kevin Butler, touting NSC’s success as “a phenomenal feat.”

Contact Ana Ley at aley@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5512. Find her on Twitter @la__ley