The Northwestern Michigan College Foundation wants to raise $1 million to meet the emergency needs of students and the college amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The foundation says the funds will be used three ways:

- Student support, including scholarships, food pantry access and flexible funding for emergency needs; 
- Academic support, increasing capacity of key areas including the Writing & Reading Center and Educational Media Technology; 
- Program stabilization, including flexible funds to ensure programs will be able to continue to operate for the benefit of students and the greater community. 

Since mid-March, the college says it has received more than 350 requests for emergency support from students. Already NMC has increased academic support and programs for students, from lending computers and Wi-Fi hotspots to stocking the NMC Food Pantry.

“NMC has a longstanding history of being supported by the community. This college exists because the community decided that education is important to the well-being of the region,” said . “I am hopeful that our community will once again step up to ensure that an NMC education will remain accessible for all," said Foundation Executive Director Rebecca Teahen.

The college already received $1 million in funding through the federal CARES Act, but that funding cannot cover tuition expenses.  Any donations will be included as part of the $35 million "Be What’s Possible" capital campaign launched in October 2019. To date, more than $29 million has been raised.