Ways to Give and Campaigns
Ways to Give
Western Dakota Technical College Foundation is grateful to our donors who support the College’s initiatives to provide real-life changes. There are many ways you can contribute to the overall success of our students, our employees, our College, and our community.
Any gift, regardless of size, enhances our mission to provide education and training at Western Dakota Tech. However, with each gift, our hope is that donors also receive the benefits associated with charitable giving and the reward of knowing they are important partners in everything we do. Our staff is available to assist you in your charitable gift planning - For more information contact the WDT Foundation 605.718.3061.
Cash
Donors can make cash contributions at any time. Give online at your convenience.
In-Kind / Non-Cash
An in-kind donation is a non-cash gift made to a nonprofit organization, including goods, services, time, and expertise. The Foundation accepts in-kind donations from industry, businesses, and individuals that promote the mission of the school for program use only.
Donations given to WDT programs will be coordinated between the donor, program director, and the Foundation Director. If no direction is given by the donor, the Foundation will determine the school’s program that best fits the donation.
Employer Matching Gifts
Your gift could double or triple if your employer has a matching gift program. Check with your Human Resource Department.
Securities
Stocks and bonds that have increased in value are excellent ways of giving. You receive a tax deduction based on the value of the securities at the time of the gift, and you do not have to pay capital gains.
Real Estate
Appreciated property is a good way to make a gift because the value of the gift is deductible, and your profit will not be taxable as a capital gain.
Life Insurance
The cash surrender value of an existing life insurance policy is tax deductible. Or you may take out a new policy, and the premiums are tax deductible if the College is made the irrevocable owner and beneficiary. You may name the Western Dakota Tech Foundation the first, second, or last beneficiary of an insurance policy.
Retirement Plans
You might consider naming the Western Dakota Tech Foundation the first, second, or last beneficiary of a retirement plan: 401-K plans, SEP's, KEOG's, IRA's, or tax-sheltered annuities. Or you might use a retirement plan to fund a charitable remainder trust.
Trusts and Annuities
Cash, marketable securities, retirement plans, or real property may be used to establish a charitable trust or annuity from which you would receive income for life with the remaining assets going to the Western Dakota Tech Foundation upon your death.
Bequests
The most common and simplest form of planned gift is a bequest through a will or living trust, or a beneficiary designation on an account, such as a traditional IRA or 401(K) plans. More complex gifts through charitable trusts and life income contracts are also possible, though they require more planning, negotiation and formal counsel than other gifts.
Naming Opportunities
There are numerous opportunities for named gifts rights of classrooms, labs and common areas. Pledged gifts can be made over a period of time to garner an appropriate marker bearing a family or company name.
Scholarships
Donors interested in impacting the lives of students through fiscal support can gift to existing scholarship funds. Make a one-time gift or make annual contributions to a specific fund in a designated field.
Endowments
Donors may establish named endowments to offer living tributes and memorials to family and friends. The created fund benefits current and future students and programs for years to come. The principal in the fund is never touched. Only the interest is used to make annual awards. The endowment may be funded over a period of time to reach the designed amount to generate needed funds.
Donate Monthly
Donate One-Time
- Click the yellow "Donate" button in the next box.
- Sign in to your PayPal account, or click "Donate with Debit Card or Credit Card" if you do not have an account.
- Key in the amount you would like to donate.
- OPTIONAL Click "Make this a monthly donation" if you would like to donate monthly.
- Click "Donate with PayPal" or "Donate with a Debit or Credit Card"
- Click "I would like to support" and type where you would like your donation allotted. ie: general scholarship fund, Student Emergency Fund
- Enter debit/credit card information.
- Click "Donate Now"
Campaigns and Funds
Named Scholarships/Endowments
By establishing a named scholarship fund invested with WDT Foundation, you provide an enduring stream of scholarship support to assist current and future generations of Western Dakota Technical College students.
Donors interested in impacting the lives of our students, can gift to existing scholarship fund(s), make a one-time gift, or make annual contributions to a specific fund, or establish a named scholarship.
Donors may establish named endowments to offer living tributes and memorials to family and friends. The created fund benefits current and future students and programs for years to come. The principal in the fund is never touched. Only the interest is used to make annual awards. The endowment may be funded over a period of time to reach the designed amount to generate needed funds.
Greenhouse Project
WDT is starting a Controlled Environment Agriculture program. The Environmental Engineering Technician - Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) program is designed to prepare students for work in the exciting and growing field of controlled environment agriculture. The EAT, SD (Education and Training in Sustainability and Development) Green-house Project will benefit students while working towards solving local food insecurity.
How does it work? CEA is a synergistic food production platform that combines techniques in aquaculture and hydroponics to simultaneously raise edible plants and fish.
What are the benefits? This recycling eliminates the need for nutrient fertilizers and yields organic produce.
Why does WDT need a greenhouse? In order to minimize energy input, commercial aquaponics units are generally housed in a greenhouse-style facility. As a continuation of these successes, we propose expanding our EAT, SD project toward community-level testing. For this proposed project, a “proof-of-concept” teaching greenhouse will be constructed to house our existing aquaponics systems.
Student Emergency Fund

The Student Emergency Fund was created to provide Western Dakota Students who encounter an unforeseen financial emergency or catastrophic event that would prevent them from continuing their education. Funds are awarded as a grant to help students with short-term financial needs.
Qualifying Circumstances, but not limited to:
- Medical/Dental Emergencies
- Food/Groceries
- Housing/Utilities
- Travel/Personal Auto
- Books/School Supplies
- Child Care
Non-Qualifying Circumstances
- Tuition
- Student Fees
- Legal Fines/Expenses
If you think you may qualify, please see one of the Student Success Coaches and fill out the Student Emergency Fund application.