Community colleges are enjoying a rare moment in the limelight right now. But part of what is being revealed by that light is just how much scrambling two-year institutions must do to keep up with increasing demands and decreasing budgets. With the recession sending many laid-off workers back to school for job retraining, and with President Barack Obama calling for more Americans to complete some postsecondary education, community college enrollments in the United States are soaring. At the same time, however, states are slashing budgets, and more students applying to community colleges today qualify for financial aid. With less money to educate more students, community colleges are straining to fulfill their missions and meet expectations. An obvious strategy to fill the gap is to seek more private gifts, but fundraising at most community colleges is still in its infancy. That's about to change--and not a moment too soon. This article discusses how community college fundraisers struggle to make the most of a special moment. As community colleges retrain and retool the workforce, the work they do is more important than ever to the future--and so is the case for raising funds.