The Bettendorf High School Class of 1977 Scholarship
An endowed scholarship honoring the friendships, education, and opportunities that shaped our lives — investing in the next generation of Bettendorf graduates.
The Bettendorf High School Class of 1977 has established an endowed scholarship to celebrate the friendships, education, and opportunities that shaped our lives and to invest in future generations of BHS graduates. As we reflect on the experiences and connections that have stayed with us throughout the years, we are proud to give back to the Bulldog community that helped shape who we are today. Through this scholarship, we hope to provide annual financial support to Bettendorf High School students as they pursue their educational goals and take the next steps toward their futures.
A classmate who wishes to remain anonymous has offered to match every gift made to the scholarship — dollar-for-dollar — up to $25,000 total, counting gifts already given this year, as long as the matching gift is made by Christmas Day, 2026. Each year, circa March, the Quad Cities Community Foundation coordinates with Bettendorf Community Schools Foundation to review applications and select the recipient(s).
Why it matters: $25,000 in the fund generates roughly $1,000 in scholarship support every year, in perpetuity — so this match alone could put our scholarship on permanently sustainable footing before our 50th reunion. Gifts beyond the match are still gratefully accepted and go 100% to the fund.
Thank You to Our Generous Classmates
Every gift makes a difference — here's who's already stepped up. Join them today.
How It Works
The fund is held and invested by the Quad Cities Community Foundation; Bettendorf Community Schools Foundation (BCSF) handles the actual scholarship, start to finish.
Ways to Give
The fund is held by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, making it easy to support the Class of 1977 Scholarship in a variety of ways. Gifts can be made during your lifetime or through your estate plan, helping to create a legacy for future generations. Gifts may also be made anonymously for those who prefer to give without recognition. Want 100% of your gift to reach the scholarship? See "Avoid the Processing Fee" below.
Give directly through the scholarship's own giving page — one-time or recurring. Credit card gifts carry a processing fee (currently around 3.6%) — you'll have the option to cover that fee yourself so the full amount reaches the scholarship.
Note: the "Bank Information" option on the giving page still routes through the payment processor and still carries the fee — it does not avoid it. See the no-fee options below if that matters to you.
Give to the Class of '77 Scholarship →Three ways carry zero processing fee — 100% of your gift reaches the scholarship: a paper check by mail (see "Give by Mail" below for the address), cash given in person, or an e-check submitted directly to the Community Foundation (not through the online giving page). For the e-check option, contact the Development Team to set it up:
(563) 326-2840 →Make your check payable to Quad Cities Community Foundation, and write "BHS Class of 77 Scholarship" on the memo line. Mail to:
Quad Cities Community Foundation852 Middle Road, Suite 100
Bettendorf, IA 52722
For gifts of stock or other assets, the Community Foundation's Development Team is happy to help personally. Gifts of $10,000 or more can also be arranged as a direct bank transfer (ACH/EFT), handled case by case:
(563) 326-2840 →You may support the scholarship through your estate — often as simple as adding a codicil to an existing Will specifying a cash gift at death. We're preparing a fill-in-the-blank codicil template to make this easy; check back soon, or talk to your attorney about adding one today. If you share a copy of your codicil or other planned-gift documentation with the Community Foundation, they'll record it for the scholarship — and can provide the committee a report of documented planned gifts on request.
Ask the Development Team →Quad Cities Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity, and gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Iowa taxpaying donors may also qualify for the Endow Iowa Tax Credit — an additional 25% Iowa state income tax credit based on the amount of the gift, on top of the standard charitable deduction. Contact the Development team for current details: (563) 326-2840 or development@qccommunityfoundation.org.
Every gift, no matter the size, helps strengthen our class's lasting legacy and provides opportunities for future Bettendorf students and the leaders they will become — and through Christmas 2026, a generous classmate is doubling every one of them. Together, we can honor our shared history, celebrate the legacy of the Class of 1977, and invest in the future of the Bettendorf community.