FAQ
All nonprofits, including universities, rely on annual philanthropic support each year to achieve their missions. In Oglethorpe’s case, it is important to note that tuition covers only a portion of the Oglethorpe experience. The rest is paid for through generous giving that allows us to offer competitive student scholarship packages, expand academic programming, as well as hire and retain exceptional faculty.
The generous gift from alumnus Bill Hammack ’73 is designated to establish the Q. William Hammack, Jr. School of Business. A significant portion of the gift will go to the university’s endowment to fund the new Dean’s position and support academic program expansion within the School of Business. The University continues to need your gift to fund support of general scholarships, other academic areas and additional university priorities.
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 Oglethorpe. 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.
An endowment is a planned gift that supports the mission of the university—to provide a superior education based on intellectual curiosity, engaged learning and close collaboration among students and faculty. Oglethorpe prepares students to make a life, make a living and make a difference in the world. The OU student experience is powerful and lasts a lifetime. That’s what the endowment supports.
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.
Establishing an endowment allows you to accomplish your philanthropic goals and help Oglethorpe fund its priorities. The reasons for creating a named endowment are varied: the satisfaction and gratification of supporting academic excellence; furthering important research; honoring a spouse, family member, or colleague in a meaningful way; or, memorializing a loved one. Creating an endowment may result in tax savings and other financial benefits and may enable you to give more than you might have thought possible.
Faculty and staff giving is often required when Oglethorpe 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. It also is a factor in institutional rankings like those published in U.S. News and World Report.
Further, did you know that Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe can have a big impact. The difference between a student withdrawing or returning to campus could be $100.
Many faculty and staff members already give and have made additional donations to support capital campaigns (like the Turner Lynch Campus Center and the Cousins Center for Science and Innovation). Others have included Oglethorpe in their estate plans. We can set the example for other key constituent groups (alumni, parents and friends) by participating in annual giving.
You can choose to support various gift designations, including Annual Fund, which goes to Oglethorpe’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 payroll deduction of $10/month, which adds up to $120 for the year. Or, $83.34/month is $1,000/year and makes you a member of our James Edward Oglethorpe Circle.
There are many ways to make a gift, including cash, check, credit and debit cards.
Sign up for payroll deduction, give online by credit/debit card, or cash/check.