Impact

Through The Campaign for OSU, many people are making their first gifts to the university. Each offers an opportunity for the university to deepen its connection with these important constituents. Our hope is that every first gift will be followed by many more, and that each donor will begin a satisfying lifelong involvement with OSU's mission.

First-time donors include students, alumni, friends around Oregon, and people halfway around the globe who may never visit our campus. A culture of philanthropy is growing:

Among (and for) STUDENTS: KidSpirit and student philanthropy initiatives
This year two students were inspired not only to give back to the KidSpirit program where they have worked as leaders, but to encourage their fellow students on staff to join them. By pledging at least $10 per month to the program, two dozen students and staff have become "KidSpirit Heroes." Sophomore Kasra Azizian, who helped lead the fundraising initiative, will be the featured speaker at the March 31 Corvallis reception for members of the President's Circle.

The OSU Foundation is extending programs aimed at encouraging students and recent graduates to make OSU a philanthropic priority. Among other efforts, a 10-member Student Philanthropy Council has been created to prepare student leaders who help educate their peers about the impact of private donations at OSU. The new "$5 for 5" (months) campaign uses a variety of social media to encourage contributions to a scholarship fund honoring each graduating class.

Throughout (and for) OREGON: Oregon Wine Research Institute
At the Feb. 21-23 Oregon Industry Wine Symposium in Eugene, OSU leaders led a workshop for more than 400 people about the Oregon Wine Research Institute, a new partnership with state and industry leaders. While OSU has long supported the incredible growth of Oregon's wine industry, the institute will become a "one-stop shop for research and outreach education, addressing viticulture, enology, and business issues," says Sonny Ramaswamy, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. "We are matching the best talent with the needs of the industry, and covering a much greater variety of industry challenges than is common to other institutes of this kind."

To date, more than 70 Northwest wineries, vineyards, and friends have committed $1.96 million toward the $2 million goal that will support the institute's new director.

Around (and for) THE WORLD: Open Source Lab
OSU's Open Source Lab offers world-class hosting services and gives students unique opportunities to hone their skills while making a difference for society — the very essence of OSU's mission as a relevant and contemporary land grant institution. While the Open Source Lab has received major gifts from corporations like Google and TDS Telecommunications, it has also received an outpouring of gifts from supporters and users all over the world.

Friends of the lab were invited to make a gift in honor of its sixth anniversary. Responses have come from 27 U.S. states and 17 countries, including Australia, India, Indonesia, Norway, Singapore, Spain, and Turkey. Many donors added words of appreciation: "The support we've received, in hardware, bandwidth, and from the volunteers and employees of the Open Source Lab, have been outstanding." "By supporting efforts like the Open Source Lab, the university is helping teach, innovate, and support our future."

Oregon State University | OSU Foundation