Support LATC – Make a Gift

Some gifts are felt immediately. Others shape lives long after we are gone.

A gift to the Lake Area Technical College Foundation is more than a financial contribution—it is an investment in students, workforce development, and the future of our communities. Whether you choose to support students today or create a lasting legacy for generations to come, your generosity helps us fulfill our mission of Building a Better Lake Area Technical College.

Ways to Support Lake Area Tech

There are many ways to give, depending on what matters most to you.

Scholarships
Scholarships help remove financial barriers and allow students to focus on their education, graduate on time, and enter the workforce prepared for success.

Areas of Greatest Need
Unrestricted gifts provide flexibility to address the college’s most pressing needs and opportunities as they arise.

Endowed Funds
Create a lasting legacy through an endowed scholarship or program fund. Endowed gifts are permanently invested, with annual earnings providing support while preserving the principal for the future.

Example of Endowment Impact

A gift of $10,000 can create a lasting impact for students for generations to come. Through an endowed contribution, a $10,000 gift can provide an initial annual scholarship of approximately $500. With careful stewardship and investment growth, the fund continues to support students year after year while preserving and growing the principal.Over a 20-year period, that original $10,000 gift could award more than $10,000 in scholarships while the endowment itself grows to more than $16,000. This allows the fund to continue supporting future students for years to come, creating a legacy that extends far beyond the original gift.

Academic Programs
Support the programs that prepare students for high-demand careers and strengthen South Dakota’s workforce.

Endowed Faculty Positions
Invest in educational excellence by supporting faculty positions that attract and retain outstanding instructors for future generations.

Equipment & Training Aids
Provide students with access to industry-standard equipment and hands-on learning experiences that reflect today’s workplace.

Facilities & Campus Improvements
Help create modern learning environments that enhance student success and support program growth.

Memorial & Honorary Gifts
Honor the memory of a loved one or celebrate someone special through a gift that supports students and their future.

Matching Gifts
Many employers offer matching gift programs that can double—or even triple—the impact of your contribution.

Gifts of Stock & Property
Donations of appreciated securities, real estate, and other assets can provide significant support while offering potential tax advantages.

Multi-Year Pledges
Make a larger impact over time through a pledge commitment that supports transformational projects and initiatives.

Legacy Giving

Your Story. Their Future.

Legacy giving allows you to support Lake Area Tech through your estate plans while aligning your charitable goals with your personal values. By including Lake Area Tech Foundation in your plans, you help ensure that future students have the same opportunities to learn, grow, and build meaningful careers for generations to come.

Common Legacy Giving Options

Bequests through a Will or Trust
Beneficiary Designations (Retirement Accounts, Life Insurance, Bank or Investment Accounts)
Charitable Gift Annuities
Charitable Remainder Trusts
Donor-Advised Funds
Gifts of Real Estate, Land, or Securities
Retained Life Estate Arrangements

There is no minimum gift required to create a legacy. Every planned gift—large or small—helps strengthen technical education and workforce development throughout our region.

Legacy of Excellence Society

Donors who include Lake Area Technical College Foundation in their estate plans are recognized as members of the Legacy of Excellence Society.

Members share a common belief that education transforms lives and that investing in future generations is one of the most meaningful legacies a person can leave.

If you have already included Lake Area Tech Foundation in your plans, please let us know. We would be honored to thank you, answer any questions, and welcome you into the Legacy of Excellence Society.

Making an Impact Today and Into the Future
Whether through an annual gift, an endowed fund, or a legacy gift, your support helps build opportunities for students, strengthen our workforce, and advance the mission of Lake Area Technical College.

Your story can help shape their future.

Contact Tracy Buisker, Foundation Executive Director for more information or with questions.
tracy.buisker@lakeareatech.edu
605-882-5284 ext. 268

See how Lake Area Tech Foundation donors are changing lives through scholarships, program support, and legacy gifts that create opportunities for students today and for generations to come.