The Council of Independent Nebraska Colleges Foundation represents Nebraska's leading independent colleges and universities. It's our responsibility to help raise funds and awareness so everyone understands the economic and personal impact these institutions have on our state and our students.Mission:
The CINC Foundation’s mission expresses the basic purpose of the organization and the reason for our existence:
In January of 2018, the Council of Independent Nebraska Colleges Foundation was launched. The CINC Foundation brings together the strengths of two previous organizations, the Nebraska Independent College Foundation and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Nebraska, which previously represented the independent higher education sector in the state for nearly 100 years. The new organization is a 501(c)(3).
The CINC Foundation is lead through the efforts of a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of the member institution presidents/chief executive officers and corporate/community members. A focused Foundation staff coordinates the efforts of the board and its committees.
The CINC Foundation’s initial membership includes 13 postsecondary institutions: Bellevue University, Bryan College of Health Sciences, Clarkson College, College of Saint Mary, Concordia University, Creighton University, Doane University, Hastings College, Midland University, Nebraska Methodist College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Union College, and York University.
Did you know that the Council of Independent Nebraska Colleges Foundation's member institutions awarded 30 percent of Nebraska's bachelor's degrees? And educate more than 35,000 students per year? In addition to producing half of the state's health science bachelor's and advanced degree graduates (including nurses)!
The CINC Foundation raises funds to help give scholarships to students who attend the thirteen colleges/universities in Nebraska. The Council of Independent Nebraska Colleges Foundation exists to provide operating funds and scholarship support for students attending Nebraska’s independent institutions of excellence.
The CINC usually gives about $300,000 each year to the colleges/universities for scholarships. Close to 50% of the graduates are in nursing or other health related fields and 35% of the graduates go on to become teachers. The CINC gives the colleges/universities the money for the scholarships and those colleges/universities distributes them to the students. The students must apply each year for those scholarships. Some of the funding for scholarships comes from individual donors, business who have employed graduates, but not from the alumni themselves because many times the college or university will fundraise through the alumni.
Over 13,000 students migrate into the state for their higher education, with the rest coming from Nebraska. Many of those students who do come from other states, stay in the state to work after graduation. These private colleges generate $1.43 billion annually in spending impact in Nebraska. The independent colleges and universities employ nearly 14,000 people. Each of these colleges ran among the top five percent of the state’s private institutions in terms of employment size.
The CINC has a program that is only two years old that works with three of the colleges (Bellevue, College of Saint Mary and Nebraska Methodist) to help students of color. These are students who are struggling and need a mentor to help them. Their mentor is someone in their area of expertise. They are given a small scholarship to help with their mentoring. The CINC wants to see these students succeed. Another program they want to start is helping where there is food insecurity. They would like to start a food pantry, telehealth where students can get help with mental and physical health.
Like its members, the Foundation is dedicated to making excellent higher education opportunities accessible to students from diverse backgrounds and communities.