Cheryl Balchunas Named Executive Director of the HCC Educational Foundation

Key Takeaways

• Balchunas raised over $194M across education and healthcare sectors
• HCC Educational Foundation set record $5.3M fundraising FY 2024‑25
• New leadership aims to expand scholarships and workforce programs
• Anne Johnson’s 22‑year tenure built strong community donor network
• Balchunas’ experience includes $96M pediatric brain tumor fund

Summary

Howard Community College President Daria J. Willis announced Cheryl Balchunas as the new Executive Director of the HCC Educational Foundation, effective March 23, succeeding long‑time leader Anne Johnson. Balchunas brings more than two decades of fundraising experience, having secured over $194 million for higher‑education and healthcare initiatives, including a $96 million pediatric brain‑tumor program. The foundation recently set a record by raising $5.3 million in the 2024‑25 fiscal year, highlighted by a $2.5 million STEM gift and a $330,000 President’s Gala. Balchunas’ appointment positions the foundation to build on this momentum and expand student support services.

Pulse Analysis

Community colleges increasingly rely on private philanthropy to supplement shrinking public budgets, and Howard Community College (HCC) exemplifies this trend. The appointment of Cheryl Balchunas, a development veteran who has orchestrated multi‑million‑dollar campaigns at the University of Maryland and Children’s National Hospital, underscores HCC’s commitment to professionalizing its fundraising engine. Her expertise in aligning donor passions with institutional goals is expected to deepen relationships with regional businesses, alumni, and foundations, translating into larger, more sustainable gifts for scholarships, research, and student services.

The foundation’s recent $5.3 million record haul—driven by a historic $2.5 million STEM endowment and a high‑yield President’s Gala—demonstrates a fertile donor base ready for further cultivation. Under Balchunas, the foundation can leverage these successes to broaden the Fueling Dragons food‑security program, expand the 5K Challenge’s scholarship impact, and launch new workforce‑development pipelines that directly address Howard County’s emerging industry needs. Such targeted investments not only boost enrollment and retention but also generate measurable economic returns for the surrounding community.

Nationally, higher‑education institutions are turning to seasoned fundraising leaders to navigate complex donor landscapes and to embed philanthropy into strategic planning. Balchunas’ cross‑sector experience—spanning academia and health‑care research—positions her to introduce data‑driven prospecting, diversified giving channels, and impact‑focused storytelling at HCC. If executed effectively, her leadership could set a benchmark for community‑college fundraising, reinforcing the model where private capital fuels public‑good outcomes and solidifies the college’s role as a regional engine of social mobility.