18
July
2016
|
03:42 AM
America/New_York

Ohio State hits record highs in fundraising activity, cash gifts, donors in FY16

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State University achieved $454 million in fundraising activity from 245,653 donors, including a cash total of $388 million – all records – during the fiscal year that ended June 30.

The prior record of $407 million in activity was set in 2011, the same year as the transformative $100 million gift from Les and Abigail Wexner. The cash and donor totals surpassed records of $360 million and more than 237,000, both set in 2015.

Total activity rose 12 percent from 2015, while cash receipts increased nearly 8 percent and donors grew by 3 percent.

“We are grateful to the entire Ohio State community for its historic support of our university’s mission,” said President Michael V. Drake. “The generosity of our alumni and friends advances the work of our faculty and provides exciting opportunities for students. The best part is that the future is even brighter.”

To date, during the But for Ohio State campaign, the university has raised more than $2.79 billion from over 727,000 donors. The campaign, which launched in 2009 and ends on Sept. 30, has raised more than $501 million for students.

Increased student support is part of Drake’s 2020 Vision for the university, which would grow the need-based grant pool by $100 million over five years. During his State of the University Address in January, Drake said Ohio State would direct $20 million in grants to approximately 15,700 undergraduates next year as part of the President’s Affordability Grant program – bringing the initiative’s total grant funding over two years to $35 million.

“Following a record-setting year, momentum continues into the final months of this remarkable campaign,” said Michael C. Eicher, senior vice president for advancement and president of The Ohio State University Foundation. “This is all due to the dedication of Buckeye Nation – our donors, alumni, students, faculty and friends. We are forever grateful for their support.”

The But for Ohio State campaign supports the academic mission and vision of the university under several priority areas: placing students first, driving research and innovation, elevating faculty and the academic enterprise, and creating modern learning environments.