Ohio University has raised more than $200 million dollars during the past three years through its Capital Campaign, and university officials say they hope to raise more than $350 million by 2016.
Some of the money raised from the Capital Campaign will go toward funding 229 full-ride scholarships, 45 professorships, new and renovated buildings, study abroad programs and learning communities, according to OU President Roderick McDavis' report to the Board of Trustees. Two-thirds of the money raised - at least $234 million if the campaign meets its goal - will be put toward the university's endowment, which is currently $284 million.
The whole term (of the campaign) is eight years
and we're about three years in said Howard Lipman, vice president for University Advancement. (Our final goal) will be north of $350 million.
Although the Campaign Steering Committee has yet to set a final goal, a $400 million scenario was included in the Board of Trustee's agenda for Friday's meeting. In addition to the 229 full-ride endowed scholarships, $12 million of the funding would go toward non-endowed scholarships, student recruiting funds and learning communities.
The final dollar-amount goal of the campaign will be based on the university's needs, the potential for gifts based on current economic conditions and the potential donor base, said Becky Watts, McDavis' chief of staff. She added that there is not set cycle for how many years pass between campaigns, but that it depends on OU's needs and the availability of resources to meet those needs.
Certainly in the next year we will kick this off in a public way
said Charles Stuckey, who is leading the Campaign Steering Committee. Over the next few months we will be choosing campaign materials and the campaign council.
OU raised more than $220 million during its last major fundraising drive, which ran from 1997-2004, surpassing its initial goal of $200 million. This campaign comes during a time when university officials must shave $13.75 million off next year's budget because of a decline in state funding.
The first meeting of the Campaign Steering Committee was March 9 and 10, and the 12 committee members set meeting dates for the next two years and determined the goals of the campaign.
This is kind of just the tip of the iceberg
a sample of the things we would like to do in the campaign
McDavis said.
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Pamela Engel
