Veronica Wilkerson Johnson

Interview of a Foundation Board Member/IDSL 860

April 17, 2014
It was my honor today to interview the distinguished Dr. Eva Evans, a
current Community Member on the Lansing Community College
Foundation Board.
Dr. Eva Evans was Deputy Superintendent of the Lansing Public
Schools at the time that she was first appointed to the Lansing
Community College Foundation Board. She has also been on the board
of international humanitarian and educational organizations, so she
understands the importance of development and fundraising. A
community leader, Dr. Evans was also the 24th International Supreme
Basileus of the prestigious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and in that
role she raised awareness about development among women around
the world.
Interview of Foundation Board Member, Dr. Eva Evans
April 17, 2014 at the Lansing Community College, Lansing,
Michigan
Questions, and Dr. Evans' answers:
1. What is your role as a board member? How long have you served on
this board?
I have been an LCC Foundation Board Member for 6 years, having
served first under LCC President Paula Cunningham, and now currently
under President Brent Knight. I also helped in the early establishment
of the LCC Foundation Board when my friend, Dr. Alexis Canady,
developed the first Board.
2. What motivated you to serve on the board?
I am a public educator and administrator, and I want to see LCC greatly
succeed. Dr. Canady and I worked closely together in the early years,
and I became the Chair of the Foundation Board for a time. When
President Abel Sykes was appointed I became a member of the LCC
President's Club, building awareness of the college, and I also
established a Scholarship Fund in my name at the Lansing Community
College!
3. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being highly engaged how would you rate
your current level of engagement with the board? Why?
I would rate my current and previous engagement at a 5, for I am
committed to education and learning. The Foundation staff are very
competent, and many kinks of the earlier years have been worked out,
so our roles are a more efficient to fulfill. I enjoy helping to recruit new

members to the Board, and we meet quarterly now. Earlier we met

every month!
4. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being highly effective in my role how
would you rate your current effectiveness in your role? What has or
could help you to be (more) effective in your role?
I would rate my current effectiveness in my role as a 5. During my
tenure as Deputy Superintendent of the Lansing Public Schools I set up
a 2+2+2 learning model in conjunction with the Lansing Community
College, and this became a force for helping to invigorate our
respective educational institutions, the parents, students and the
community. Now I help to recruit, train, provide counsel and assist
fellow board members in our various roles.
5. What does your board do especially well in fulfilling its mission?
Our LCC Board does well in recruitment and finances. With staff
helping, everyone is about supporting the mission. I see our Board as
policymaking, and we seek to recruit members who can aid this
competence and present their knowledge about the community.
Also, we encourage our Board members to donate to LCC, though it is
not a deterrent in recruiting them if they do not, nor is it a prerequisite
to them becoming members. I am not a graduate of a community
college, but I do value the benefits that LCC brings to our community.
Good Board members bring to the table so many assets in connections
and knowledge of the community that are equally as valuable as
giving.
6. If you could change one thing about your board, what would it be?
Why?
Well, we are the function of our own recruitment, so whatever we are,
it is because we are who we picked (laughter). However, I would say
that I would recruit with a keen eye for a potential Board member's
ability to attend meetings, or their ability to contribute substantially in
giving, or in their strong community knowledge. Some Board members
bring much value in financing the college, though they may not be able
to make many meetings. I think I would continue to review and
support our recruitment strategy to insure continued effectiveness.
7. Please offer 3-5 characteristics of a high performing board.
Here are my ideas of good characteristics of a high performing board:
* the members understand how to be on LCC's Foundation Board, and
are not just in an administrative capacity;
* the members have ability and expertise to give guidance to the staff
and the community;
* the members are engaged, and can work well with others;

* the members are accessible, and are not annoyed at being

contacted.
8. What advice would you give to a new member joining your board?
I would tell a new or prospective board member to learn about the LCC
Foundation Board before you join it, and know and understand what
you will be encouraged to contribute.
9. Do you have a job description? May I have a copy?
(Note: The description is attached).
Thank you immensely, Dr Eva Evans!

WhoWeAre
MissionandVisionStatement
TheLansingCommunityCollegeFoundationprovidessupporttoinspireandenablethepursuitof
educationforthebettermentofall.Ourdonorschangelivesandenrichourcommunity.
TheLCCFoundationisanonprofit,taxexemptorganizationgovernedbya27memberBoardof
communityleaders.EachyeartheLCCFoundationhelpshundredsofindividualsrealizethegiftof
education.TheLCCFoundationsupportsLansingCommunityCollegeanditsstudentsfinanciallythrough:

Scholarships

Programimprovements

Technologicaladvancements

Staffdevelopment

Capitalexpansionasneeded

TheLCCFoundation'svisionistorankamongthenation'stopCommunityCollegeFoundations,providing
resourcesto:

ProvidefinancialsupporttoallLCCstudentsseekingfinancialscholarshipsupport,allowingthem
accesstoaneducation.ScholarshipsupportresultsinthesuccessandretentionofLCCstudents
whothengraduateandbecomeemployedcitizensofMichigan.

Assurethateachphilanthropicdollarmakesadramaticimpactuponstudentsuccess.

AssurethatDonorsexperiencethebestpossiblegivingexperiencepossibleamongnonprofit
opportunities.

FederalandStateTaxBenefitsofGiving
TheLCCFoundationisa501(c)(3)nonprofit.Thereforeyourgiftsmaybetaxdeductible.

Contributionsof$250ormoremustbesubstantiatedbyawrittenacknowledgementfromthe
Foundationwhichismailedtodonorsforeachdonation.

BeginningJanuary1,2012,theStateofMichiganwillnotallowtaxpayerstotakeanon
refundabletaxcreditfordonationstoMichiganpublicinstitutionsontheirindividualtaxreturn.

FinancialManagement
LansingCommunityCollegeFoundationscholarshipandprogramfundsbenefitstudents,programsandall
campusesofLCC.AllLCCFoundationfundsarekeptandmanagedseparatelyfromtheCollege.
TheLCCFoundationisauditedannuallybyRehmannGroup.Belowareourmostrecentauditedfinancial
statements.

2011Form990

2010Form990

2009Form990

2008Form990

Copyright 2014 Lansing Community College, MI, 1-800-644-4522

Reference:
Lansing Community College.
http://www.lcc.edu/foundation/who/. Last retrieved 4-17-14.