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The Florida Independent College
Fund
50 Years of Excellence
Who We
Are
The Florida Independent College Fund (FICF) is a
not-for-profit organization that works closely with the Independent Colleges
and Universities of Florida (ICUF) to provide expanded access to a higher
education for students from all backgrounds. FICF strives to assist
deserving, hardworking students in need of education and training that will
result in a better-prepared and educated workforce.
For 50 years, the FICF has worked to promote and
support private higher education in Florida. As we celebrate our golden
anniversary, we look forward to many more years of success.
The purpose of the Florida Independent College Fund is:
(1)
to serve as the non‑profit foundation for program and resource
development for the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida;
(2)
to develop collaborative programs and projects of members of the
Independent Colleges and Universities and to seek funding for those
activities;
(3)
to identify and develop funding for general purposes of the member
institutions, scholarships and collaborative programs;
(4)
to carry out funding activities through which individuals,
corporations, corporate foundations, trusts and other foundations can
support the collaborative scholarships and programs of member colleges;
(5)
to promote the interests of independent higher education in Florida
by enhancing a productive partnership between the member institutions and
the private sector; and
(6)
to inform and encourage private sector leadership regarding the
distinctive value and contributions to Florida and the nation of this
state’s independent institutions of higher learning.
What We Do
The FICF was established as a fundraising Foundation for the
independent colleges and universities in Florida. Since 1956, the Fund has
awarded over $19 million in scholarships and has assisted thousands of
students in achieving their education goals. It ranks first in the nation
for average awards per institution.
In addition to raising scholarship funding, the FICF
has become a leader in transforming new teacher recruitment and preparation
in Florida. Through its unique
YesTeach! programs, the FICF has developed a system to recruit,
prepare, and support new K-12 Florida teachers.
FloridaHIRE, a product of the YesTeach!Math&Science
campaign, is another innovative way the FICF is helping our member
institutions and their graduates, as well as employers. FloridaHIRE
provides free access to more than 15,000 resumes of talented students and
alumni from 27 independent colleges and universities.
The FICF also seeks to foster collaboration between its
member institutions. To that end, the FICF has worked to develop Practioner
groups for Advancement and Alumni, and offers support to Admissions,
Financial Aid, and Career Counselor groups. A
Members Only area was created on our website to allow these groups to
share best practices and communicate quickly with their colleagues.
HISTORY of the FICF
Independent higher education in Florida dates back to the
1800s. Before the dawn of the last century, several private institutions
were operating in Florida, including Edward Waters College (1866), Florida
Memorial College (1879), Florida Southern College (1855), Rollins College
(1885), Saint Leo University (1889), and Stetson University (1883).
In 1956, the presidents of four independent colleges in Florida gathered to
determine if a collaborative organization could help further the cause of
independent higher education in Florida. Out of this meeting, the FICF was
born. The four charter members were Barry College of Miami, Florida
Southern College of Lakeland, Rollins College of Winter Park, and John B.
Stetson University of Deland. The primary focus was to raise funds to assist
the member schools in meeting the financial needs of students wanting to
attend those institutions. The founding officers of the FICF were Hugh F.
McKean, President, (Rollins College), Dr. J. Ollie Edmunds, Vice President
(Stetson University), Dr. Ludd M. Spivey, Secretary (Florida Southern
College), and Sister Mary Edmund, Treasurer, (Barry College). The first
year of solicitations was 1959, in which the Fund raised approximately
$20,000 for its members.
As Florida has grown, the independent colleges and
universities have expanded to meet the demand for a highly educated,
high-qualified workforce. All of our members are SACS accredited, private,
not-for-profit 4-year colleges and universities chartered in the state of
Florida. They are a diverse group offering undergraduate and graduate
degrees, as well as professional and continuing education. They serve more
than 120,000 students at 180 sites around Florida. They offer bachelor
degree opportunities on 18 community college campuses and an additional 20
satellite campus sites. Their enrollments vary from less than 100 to more
than 22,000 students. Their average class has 19 students.
Today, the FICF is comprised of 28 member colleges and
universities and has awarded over $7 million in the last five years. In
addition to its fundraising efforts, the Fund continues to provide services
to its member institutions that bring new tools, technical aid and promising
opportunities to advancement, financial aid, admissions, career placement,
and alumni relations directors.
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