Foundation Funding Priorities

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Fuel the Future Foundation Funding Priorities 2025–2027

Why "Fuel the Future"?

At Heartland Community College, we believe that education is the engine of opportunity—and it needs fuel to keep moving forward. Fuel the Future represents our commitment to providing the critical resources students need to pursue their goals, overcome obstacles, and thrive in a changing world.

Each project in this initiative directly supports innovative programs, essential student services, and transformative learning experiences. By investing in these priorities, our donors are fueling not only individual success, but also the future of our community.

Together, we’re igniting potential—and ready to keep it burning bright.

To further our mission of supporting accessible and innovative learning opportunities at Heartland Community College, Foundation Funding Priorities (FFPs) are areas of focus for fundraising that align with College priorities.

Student Emergency Fund

Heartland recognizes that the cost of college extends beyond tuition. An unplanned expense can create an insurmountable obstacle for a student who is managing school, work, family, and life. Some of our students experience unexpected financial hardships that may require them to step away from their education, extending their time to degree completion. The Student Emergency Fund exists to help students address these financial expenses so that they may continue to stay enrolled. Donated funds will expand the reach of the Student Emergency Fund and help pay for items such as specialized classroom equipment, home utilities, housing assistance, and car repairs.

Edu-Africa Service Learning Experience

The Edu-Africa Service Learning Experience provides first-year Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) students with a transformative experience in collaboration with Edu-Africa. Scheduled during the students’ summer clinical in May 2026, the program will emphasize intercultural communication, comparative healthcare analysis, and global citizenship. Students will engage with peers in Tanzania online, design a physical therapy program for youth with disabilities, and explore how healthcare practices differ across cultural and economic contexts.

Career Development Fund for Experiential Learning

The Career Development Fund will provide $500 stipends to support students pursuing unpaid internships or other career-building experiences. The fund will also assist with costs related to professional development, such as conference fees, work-based learning supplies, and internship tuition. The fund removes financial barriers that often limit access to valuable hands-on learning opportunities and is designed to foster equity and support student career readiness.

Telehealth Simulation Lab for Health Sciences

The Telehealth Simulation Lab will be the first of its kind among Illinois community colleges, equipping all Health Sciences students at Heartland with essential telehealth competencies. Building on the successful use of virtual reality in Nursing and EMS courses, the lab will provide immersive, asynchronous, and hybrid learning opportunities using emerging AI-powered healthcare simulation technologies.