As faculty and staff, you see firsthand the determination, challenges, and dreams of our students. When you give through the Foundation — especially through convenient payroll deduction — you’re investing directly in their success. Your support helps fund scholarships, emergency aid, academic programs, and innovative projects that remove barriers and open doors.
Many of you partner with the Foundation in vital ways — managing accounts, working with donors, and supporting fundraising. We value that collaboration deeply, and we’re committed to stewarding every dollar with transparency, accountability, and clarity.
This is your hub for both employee giving and working with the Foundation.
Make a difference through payroll deduction.
Payroll deduction is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to support students. A few dollars per paycheck adds up — and when we give together as a college community, our impact multiplies.
We are grateful for the dedication you bring to our students every day. Your partnership — whether through giving, collaboration, or simply staying informed — strengthens our mission and expands what’s possible for the students we serve.
Together, we are creating opportunity.
Welcome to the SJECCD Foundation toolbox! This resource was created with you in mind — to make it easier to partner with the Foundation and bring more opportunities to our students.
The Foundation exists to support the incredible work happening at San José City College and Evergreen Valley College — not just through scholarships and grants, but by helping employees manage the funds they raise. From processing reimbursements and managing program accounts to running payroll giving, we make it easy to bring private support to your students and programs.
Think of this Toolbox as your go-to place for guidance, forms, and support. Whether you’re planning an event, setting up a program account, thanking a donor, or simply trying to figure out the next step — we’re here to help.
Our role is to make fundraising and donor stewardship smoother, more transparent, and compliant — so that you can stay focused on the inspiring work you’re doing for students. If you ever hit a question mark, just reach out. We’d love to collaborate with you.
Abdul idris
abdul.idris@sjeccd.edu
Senior Accounting Technician
Finance, budgeting, gift processing, check requests, account reconciliations, employee payroll deductions
Yeab Granados-Kebede
yeab.kebede@sjeccd.edu
Program Coordinator
Scholarship/program account establishment, CRM/database management, in-kind donations, events, donation/ticketing platform set-up, foundation toolbox
The San José-Evergreen Community College District Foundation is the nonprofit partner supporting student success at San José City College and Evergreen Valley College. We manage donations, conduct our own fundraising, support campus-based fundraising, and ensure compliance with nonprofit and District policies.
As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we make it possible for the colleges to receive charitable support from individuals, businesses, and foundations. Without this status, many forms of giving — including scholarships, grants, and sponsorships — wouldn’t be possible.
While we collaborate closely with campus and District leadership, the Foundation operates independently and is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of community and business leaders, as well as the Chancellor, both college presidents, and a representative from the SJECCD Board of Trustees.
What We Do:
These are the big-picture functions. But what does that mean for you as an employee? We’re here to make it easy for you to raise and manage private funds for your students and programs. Here’s how we support you directly:
In short: we handle the money, paperwork, and compliance — so you can focus on students.
Before launching any fundraising activity — like an event, campaign, or crowdfunding effort — check in with us. We’ll help you:
All donations should go through the Foundation — not personal accounts or club funds. This ensures:
Compliance and audit-readiness.
A personal thank-you note, photo, or program update is always appreciated. However, official tax receipts for all donations processed through the Foundation are issued directly by the Foundation.
Track donor names, event attendees, in-kind gifts, and total funds raised by filling out the spreadsheet below and submit that to the Foundation at foundation@sjeccd.edu for tracking. Submit any collected cash/checks with a completed deposit form promptly.
Avoid statements like “All of your donation goes to students” or “you’ll have a scholarship named after you” unless officially approved. We can help you craft accurate, effective messaging.
No Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or similar platforms. All fundraising must flow through the Foundation to maintain legal compliance and donor trust.
If you’re planning to approach a business, foundation, or major donor, involve the Foundation as early as possible. We may already have an existing relationship — or can help strengthen and coordinate the ask to maximize support.
To ensure donor trust, transparency, and compliance, keep the following policies in mind:
Account Types & Administrative Fees
Overview of Foundation account structures and applicable administrative fees.
Check Requests
Submit payment or reimbursement requests.
Program Account Setup & Management
Create or manage a Foundation program account to support your work.
Method Fund Balance Reports & Using Funds
Need to know how much is in your account and how to use the funds in the trust account?
Emergency Assistance Requests
Access the form and guidelines for requesting emergency assistance for students.
In-Kind Donation Processing
Accept goods or services donated to the Foundation or campus.
SJECCD Employee Payroll Deductions
Support students directly through automatic paycheck contributions.
Event Registration & Ticketing
Use Foundation platforms to host successful events.
Need help with something else? You can email or call our staff at their contacts below.
Abdul Idris
Senior Accounting Technician
abdul.idris@sjeccd.edu
Yeab Granados-Kebede
Program Coordinator
yeab.kebede@sjeccd.edu
We’re here to help. Our goal is to make it easier — not harder — to use private dollars to support our students and programs. If you’re ever unsure about something, please reach out. It’s always better to clarify up front than untangle things later.
Thank you for everything you do to make our colleges vibrant, student-centered communities. We’re proud to support you.
