Faculty and Staff Giving
Helping Students Thrive
Helping Students Thrive is Oglethorpe’s annual faculty and staff campaign, providing current university employees the opportunity to invest in Oglethorpe. The primary goal of this campaign is participation, meaning it is not about how much you give or where you direct your gift, it is about the power of Oglethorpe University employees coming together to make a difference for this university. Every contribution, no matter the size, will count towards our total participation rate. New this year, we are offering seven areas that align with our strategic plan. These areas are:
- The Oglethorpe Fund
- Housing Support Fund
- Scholarship Support Fund
- Academic Support Fund
- Stormy Petrels Booster Club
- Campus Beautification Fund
- Student Retention Fund
To learn more about this campaign, please see our Frequently Asked Questions below. To make your donation, please fill out the form below, or email Kerry Ayres-Smith to complete the form to enroll in payroll deduction.
The Helping Students Thrive Fall Campaign will run September 23, 2024 – October 25, 2024, but any donation made to Oglethorpe during the current fiscal year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) will count towards participation in this year’s Helping Students Thrive campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helping Students Thrive is Oglethorpe’s annual faculty and staff campaign, providing all university employees with an opportunity to support their chosen area(s) of impact within our community. The primary goal of this campaign is participation, meaning that every contribution, no matter the amount – even $5 – counts towards our total participation rate.
All full-time employees, part-time employees, and adjunct faculty members are eligible to participate.
Absolutely! New this year, Oglethorpe is offering seven directed giving opportunities that are rooted in the university’s Strategic Plan and will support Oglethorpe’s continued growth and advancement. These funds range from academics to campus beautification to unrestricted giving. To learn more about these funds, please click here. Wherever your passions lie, there is an opportunity to make an impact at Oglethorpe today.
The campaign runs on a fiscal year basis. While we are doing a push September 23, 2024 – October 25, 2024, any donation made to Oglethorpe during the current fiscal year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) counts towards participation in this year’s Helping Students Thrive campaign.
Participating is easy! You can make an online gift to your preferred designation on the form above, you can email Kerry Ayres-Smith to enroll in payroll deductions, or you can give via check.
Support from employees provide funding for important initiatives at Oglethorpe. Employees who participate are an endorsement of the university, announcing to alumni, friends, corporations and foundations that Oglethorpe is an institution worthy of support. Your contributions have a significant impact on our ability to uphold our mission and elevate Oglethorpe’s standing as Atlanta’s premier undergraduate learning experience. By investing in our university, you demonstrate your belief in our work and help secure a promising future for our students.
Most of us support causes we believe in – our places of worship, healthcare and medical research organizations, the arts, youth groups and scores of other worthy causes. As you become involved in Oglethorpe and strengthen your belief in the mission of the university, your financial support is another way you can make a difference. The commitment of the Oglethorpe community is a strong vote of confidence in the future of the university.
Tuition only covers a portion of the actual cost of an Oglethorpe education. Charitable donations from faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends help support our programs, provide scholarships, and are essential to bridge this gap.
Philanthropic support is a personal decision. Participation rates are how we measure our success. Regardless of the size of your gift, what is important is that you are involved at an amount meaningful to you.
No. Employee participation is completely voluntary.
Yes, your gift on OU Giving Day will count in the faculty and staff giving total. If you plan on giving on OU Giving Day, thank you in advance for your generous support! You will be counted as a donor this year for the faculty and staff giving campaign upon your gift. If you’d like to make another gift during the 5-week outreach in the fall, we appreciate the generosity!
Yes, all gifts made to Oglethorpe University are tax deductible.
Contact Kerry Ayres-Smith, Associate Director of Annual Giving.