This study used the lens of Resource Dependency Theory to examine the mindsets of nine community college presidents in California as they responded to the decline in state funding. The literature indicated that community colleges are pursing alternative sources of funding and emphasized presidents' roles in leading and engaging in many activities. However, the literature is lacking on presidents' awareness of Resource Dependency Theory as an established framework for guiding their responses to resource shortages. Resource Dependency Theory sees organizations as open systems and dynamic units that need to draw on their environments for needed resources. This study found that some California community college presidents have an understanding of their colleges and the environments in which they operate that mirrors the constructs of Resource Dependency Theory.