From the Nominator

"This entry covers the “Innovation and Impact Report,” the Foundation for California Community Colleges’ (FoundationCCC) annual report for the fiscal year 2021-2022. The year covered in the report (2021-2022) was especially significant for FoundationCCC, as the organization further expanded its role as a nonprofit auxiliary and innovation hub for the largest system of higher education in the nation, the California Community Colleges, and found new ways to help our state emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever. The report needed to convey this weight, provide an overview of our major accomplishments, and share real-life examples of how philanthropic support made possible the organization’s impact on students, colleges, and communities.  

The theme “Innovation Means” helped guide the design and organize content for the report, with the goal of showing how FoundationCCC embraced innovation, and tested and tried new, bold approaches, to address inequities and meet urgent needs. Accomplishments from FoundationCCC’s 50+ programs were organized into seven categories or priorities, such as “Innovation means… ensuring students have the financial support they need to succeed,” with compelling data points ($9 million in scholarships awarded, for example) and imagery that showed the impact of each initiative.  

Additionally, a new video component was added to the annual report to help uplift the students' voices and showcase the depth and breadth of FoundationCCC’s contributions to the state and system. The video features two students (a scholarship recipient and a FoundationCCC student ambassador), as well as a manager of the organization’s Community Impact Call Center, and the president and CEO."

From the Judges

Judges thought this was a beautifully designed digital impact report, simple, yet elegant and immersive, going a step beyond taking a print annual report and putting it online. The high-quality, engaging photography of students on campus, in classes, and in a variety of settings really speaks to the diverse and important role of community colleges and celebrates accomplishments that can be achieved with strong philanthropic support. The site is well organized with smooth animations that add visual interest.