Join an award-winning board
The Holyoke Community College Foundation, Inc. is seeking community leaders to serve on its Board of Directors beginning January 2026.
Transform Lives. Shape Futures. Make History.
The Holyoke Community College Foundation, Inc. is seeking community leaders to serve on its Board of Directors beginning January 2026.
Opportunity Awaits
Join an award-winning board that’s making a difference in the lives of thousands of individuals throughout western Massachusetts and beyond. The HCC Foundation Board of Directors was honored in 2023 with the prestigious John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges — recognition reserved for boards that “go above and beyond what boards should do, and instead take board-driven measures to advance their institutions in ways that truly matter.”
As a member of this exceptional board, you won’t just attend meetings — you will be part of a dynamic team that is revolutionizing student success at Holyoke Community College. Your expertise, advocacy, and strategic vision will directly impact the lives of over 7,500 students, helping them overcome barriers and achieve their dreams in a community where your leadership matters most.
Our Impact
The HCC Foundation doesn’t just support the college — it transforms it. Through innovative solutions and bold initiatives, our board members help create:
- Enhanced Learning Environments: Classrooms, technology, and state-of-the-art facilities that inspire excellence
- Faculty & Staff Excellence: Resources that attract and retain outstanding educators who change lives daily
- Student Success Programs: Scholarships, support services, and pathways that turn potential into achievement
- Community Partnerships: Innovative collaborations that address real-world challenges and create opportunities
With an endowment exceeding $18 million, the Foundation has the resources to make ambitious visions reality. But it’s the collective wisdom, professional experience, and passionate advocacy of board members like you that turns those resources into transformational impact.
Your Leadership in Action
Board members bring their unique professional expertise to bear on the challenges and opportunities facing higher education today. Working collectively as a board committed to the community college mission, you will:
- Innovatively solve complex problems affecting students and the broader community
- Champion strategic initiatives that position HCC as a leader in accessible, high-quality education
- Leverage your professional networks to create opportunities for students and the institution
- Advocate powerfully for the vital role community colleges play in economic mobility and community development
- Guide strategic investments that deliver measurable impact on student outcomes
Seeking Dynamic Leaders
While ALL experience is valued and every perspective strengthens our work, we are particularly seeking board members with expertise in two critical areas:
1. Financial Leadership & Strategic Investment
- Finance, investments, and endowment management
- Strategic financial planning and analysis
- Risk management
- Budget development and fiscal stewardship
2. Community Engagement & Resource Development
- Fundraising and donor cultivation
- Community engagement and partnership building
- Marketing, communications, and brand development
- Corporate relations and foundation partnerships
Join a Legacy of Leadership
First established in 1968 as one of the first organizations of its kind affiliated with a community college, the HCC Foundation has a proud 56-year history of making the impossible possible. Today, we are building on that legacy to meet tomorrow’s challenges with innovation, investment, and unwavering commitment to student success.
Your Commitment
- Board Terms: Three years with the opportunity to serve up to three consecutive terms
- Meetings: Quarterly meetings, approximately 90 minutes each
- Committee Service: Active participation in one of five standing committees aligned with your interests and expertise
- Recognition: Join an award-winning board that serves as a model for higher education governance nationwide
The Time is Now
This is your opportunity to be part of something extraordinary. Community colleges stand as beacons of hope, accessibility, and transformation. Your leadership can help ensure that HCC continues to be a college of academic excellence known for helping students overcome barriers to success.
The students we serve — many of them first-generation college students, working parents, and individuals seeking new career paths — don’t just need education. They need advocates. They need champions. They need leaders like you who understand that investing in their success is investing in the future of our entire community.
Ready to Transform Lives?
Please click here to submit your interest in board service. Recruitment is currently underway, with invitations for service to be extended in fall 2025. Thank you for considering this exciting leadership opportunity. Together, we can ensure that HCC continues to transform lives and strengthen our community for generations to come.
