SUPPORT
Make A Difference.
For nearly 200 years, more than 13,000 graduates have left ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ prepared to make a life, make a living, and make a difference in the world. Thousands of alumni, individual university supporters, foundations, and corporations have also chosen to make a difference for future students by supporting university-wide priorities and the core values of ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ. With your contributions, we continue to unlock our potential and advance the university’s mission.
Our community is capable of extraordinary impact through philanthropy.
Nescit Cedere.
Supporting the ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ experience.
In this video, graduating senior Mackenzie Roberson ’24 shares a thank you letter with her favorite professor, Dr. Karen Schmeichel. As a first-generation student, Mackenzie credits Dr. Schmeichel for supporting her interest in scientific research. When you make a gift, your donation enhances every aspect of the student experience that makes an ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ education special.
Areas of Support
Your gifts make ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ’s life-changing education possible for future generations. Your generosity provides the resources we need to take advantage of new opportunities, address challenges, and continue to position ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ as the premier undergraduate learning experience in Atlanta. There are many funds to which you can direct your gift, from academics to campus beautification to unrestricted giving. Explore these funds below or make an immediate impact by giving to The ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Fund. Wherever your passions lie, there is an opportunity to make an impact at ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ.
The ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Fund
Annual unrestricted gifts to ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ sustain the core of our institution and enhance daily opportunities for our students. These contributions provide essential, immediate support for the unique ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ experience. By investing in The ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Fund, you will be directly supporting the life-changing opportunities for our students’ successful futures.
Housing Support Fund
Studies have shown that living on campus helps not only enhance the overall student experience, but also leads to higher graduation rates and higher GPAs, along with a stronger sense of community. Donate to the Housing Support Fund to ensure all OU students can become fully immersed in the ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ campus community.
Scholarship Support Fund
99% of ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ students receive financial aid to make their education dreams a reality. By donating to the Scholarship Support Fund, you help ensure that ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ’s education remains accessible to all students, no matter their socio-economic background. Scholarships enable students to fully engage in academics and opportunities without the worry of tuition bills. Your support helps students reach higher and dream bigger.
Academic Support Fund
The Academic Support Fund at ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ provides students with hands-on experiences through faculty-led undergraduate research opportunities. Your gift allows students to expand their knowledge and gain a deeper appreciation for their chosen academic field, as well as strengthen their research, critical thinking, analytical and writing skills.
Stormy Petrels Booster Club
Since 2019, the Stormy Petrels Booster Club has supported ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ student-athletes on and off the field, contributing to their success in academics, competition and life. As the fundraising arm for OU athletics, the Booster Club aids over 300 student-athletes. Your support directly impacts teams’ competitiveness and helps develop lifelong leaders.
Campus Beautification Fund
³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ’s 100-acre campus is an extraordinary blend of green spaces, historic buildings and modern facilities. The Campus Beautification Fund works to maintain and preserve the beauty and history of ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ’s campus by providing the Facilities and Grounds Departments with needed resources to ensure that our historic campus remains stunning for future generations of Petrels. Â
Student Retention Fund
The Student Retention Fund provides critical support to students facing unforeseen financial hardships, ensuring student success and preventing withdrawal due to personal circumstances. This fund is an integral part of ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ’s strategic priority to enhance student success and increase student retention at the university. Donate today to ensure that all students can thrive at ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ, regardless of their financial situation.
Invest in ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ
Your support helps to cultivate an environment at ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ where students are prepared for success in professional endeavors as responsible and productive contributors to a global society. When you invest in ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ, you help more students experience the mentorship and impactful academic programs that are core parts of an ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ education.
Each investment in ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ, regardless of the amount, supports the ambitious goals we have for the future. With your gift, the ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ tradition continues
Office Of Advancement
The advancement team staff is available to assist you in whatever ways you wish to support ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ. If you are unsure of whom to connect with, contact us, and we will be happy to direct you to the appropriate person.
Note: All mailed gifts and correspondence should be addressed to ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ, Office of Advancement, 4484 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30319.
Frequently asked questions
It isn’t about how much you give. It’s the collective strength of alumni giving that makes a difference. Current young alumni have collectively given close to $100,000. Imagine the very real impact of those funds, when even a modest scholarship can help to keep a student at ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ. And that’s just one example. Foundations also look to alumni participation statistics when considering grant awards. The more alumni who give, regardless of the amount, the better our chances of securing foundation funding. If each alumnus or alumna makes a gift, together we can accomplish our big plans.
Endowments support ongoing operational expenses or designated purposes like scholarships, projects, institutes, professorships, and programs that serve as crucial elements of the OU experience. They can be a resource for new programs and innovations. And, they enhance faculty recruitment and retention.
Faculty and staff giving is often required when ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ applies for grant monies from various foundations and corporations. By demonstrating a united front through annual support, we boost our chances of getting those external dollars.
Further, did you know that ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that relies on philanthropic support from alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff? Making a commitment to giving even a small amount to ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ can have a big impact. The difference between a student withdrawing or returning to campus could be $100.
You can choose to support various gift designations, including Annual Fund, which goes to ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ’s greatest needs.
Other options include, but are not limited to:
-Student Emergency Assistance Fund
-Annual Student Scholarships
-Stormy Petrels Booster Club (Athletics)
Visit the giving page to view the dropdown menu of gift designations. We’re happy to answer any questions you might have about specific interests.
Yes! Think about what would happen if everyone felt their contributions (monetary or otherwise) wouldn’t make a difference. Where would we be? Collectively, small annual fund gifts add up. More than half of annual fund donors make gifts of $250 or less. Your contribution matters!
Consider signing up for a monthly recurring gift of $10/month, which adds up to $120 for the year. Or a monthly gift of $83.34 totals $1,000/year and makes you a member of our James Edward ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Circle.
The easiest way to give is to donate online, but you can also give in many other ways, including through endowed funds, gifts of stock or securities, or by donating goods or services. You can also designate your gift in honor or memory of someone special.
Learn more about the ways to give.
NEWS
- Alumni, Campus Life, Featured, News
