University of Oregon Raises Record $853 Million in Campaign Oregon

EUGENE, Ore., Jan. 30, 2009 — Despite beginning and ending during serious economic recessions, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in state history soared past its $600-million goal to raise $853,120,266, more than three-quarters of a billion dollars, University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer announced today.

Thanks to more than 90,000 individual donors, “Campaign Oregon: Transforming Lives” raised $99.8 million for student scholarships and fellowships, $106.1 million for faculty support, $186.1 million for academic and program support, and $138.2 million for improving academic campus facilities. The campaign, which started counting contributions on Jan. 1, 2001, officially ended Dec. 31, 2008.

“Campaign Oregon is a statement of faith in the future; it’s a statement of confidence that this generation can build something that endures beyond our lifetimes and improves the lives of those to come,” said Frohnmayer. “We are honored and humbled that so many people have placed such great trust in this institution to carefully steward their financial gifts. They have built a legacy that will benefit the state, the nation and the world for years to come.”

Frohnmayer, other administrators, campaign volunteers, professors and students all expressed thanks for the extraordinary generosity of campaign donors at events held in Eugene and Portland. Frohnmayer said the successful campaign is one of the university’s most significant accomplishments during his tenure as president, which began in 1994 and ends this June with his retirement.

The campaign’s success extends the university’s ability to fulfill its mission to serve the state of Oregon by increasing student access to higher education; by supporting faculty members whose research benefits business, government and social services; and by enhancing direct social and cultural services for Oregon citizens. It also represents how private giving and state and federal support can be used together to achieve greater results. Examples include the HEDCO Education Building, which will open in June 2009, and the Lorry I. Lokey Laboratories, which opened in spring 2008. Both projects and others received private donations as well as federal and state funding.

“Our entire state is benefitting from the University of Oregon’s record-setting fundraising effort,” said Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski. “The generosity of UO donors exceeded anyone’s wildest hopes. The new student scholarships, increased faculty and program support, and new buildings will improve Oregon’s economic outlook and quality of life for generations.”

Starting an ambitious fundraising campaign in 2001 required a leap of faith by university administrators and volunteers. Frohnmayer credited the volunteer leaders of the campaign — Tim Boyle, vice chair of the Campaign Leadership Committee, the late Randy Papé of Eugene, who chaired the effort, and members of the committee — for having the courage to move forward.

“Randy and Tim, both highly successful Oregon business leaders, gave credibility to the notion of raising an unprecedented amount of money for the University of Oregon in the wake of the dot-com bust and the 9-11 tragedy,” Frohnmayer said.

“Campaign Oregon embodies what all Oregonians — and many people outside of Oregon who contributed to the campaign — feel about the university, its mission and its effectiveness as a true leadership organization within the state,” said Tim Boyle, the campaign’s vice chair, who is president and CEO of Columbia Sportswear in Portland.

The most significant achievements of Campaign Oregon include:

• Student support: During the campaign, private gifts have more than doubled funds available for UO scholarships; as endowments grow, these gifts will create thousands more scholarships for UO students.

• Faculty support: Campaign gifts funded 35 new endowed chairs and professorships, providing substantial additional funding for recruiting and retaining top faculty members. Fund for Faculty Excellence Awards, carrying annual salary supplements of $3,000 to $16,000 a year, have been awarded to 52 faculty members to date.

• The sciences: About $55 million, part of a larger gift from philanthropist Lorry I. Lokey, dramatically transformed science teaching and research at the UO. The gift includes $30 million for faculty support, $10 million for graduate student support and $10 million for program support. Gifts from Lokey and others also funded several major new facilities for the sciences.

• New facilities: Campaign gifts helped fund more than $250 million worth of new and improved academic facilities, including two new science buildings; a new business complex; and renovation and expansion of the music, education and theater facilities, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Athletic facility improvements include the Autzen Stadium renovation and expansion, Hayward Field improvements, PK Park baseball stadium and the Matthew Knight Arena.

• Programs: Campaign donors financed a new journalism center in Portland, new programs in securities analysis and product design, and increased endowments for Special Collections in UO Libraries and the Oregon Bach Festival.

Frohnmayer said the end of the campaign does not end the university’s need for private fundraising. On the contrary, he said, “Our focus, drive and energy will continue to be on building a top 25 public research university. To do that requires increasing private support as well as increased state support. Although the campaign is over, we are not letting up now.”

Post-campaign fundraising goals will be based on a five-to-10-year academic vision for the university being developed under the direction of UO Provost James Bean. A final draft of the plan is expected soon. The university will continue to fundraise at $90 to $100 million annually to sustain progress in all areas of excellence.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of the 62 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.