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In this season of giving thanks, I want to express my deep appreciation for you, our university partners. You are problem-solvers, and, for me, the joy of our partnership is helping you — OSU’s world-class experts — tackle the most difficult challenges facing our community, the nation and the world. Obviously, our work at OSU is more important than ever. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

By the Numbers

Fundraising: As of Nov. 30, 2020, donors have given $46.71 million this fiscal year toward our baseline goal of $123 million. Our fiscal year progress is down slightly from last year’s $50.78 million but ahead of our five-year average of $41.7 million at this time. December (see below for end-of-year reminders) is the busiest month for the Foundation; we’re intently focused on working with donors who are motivated by the calendar year end to finalize their commitments in support of the amazing students, faculty and programs at OSU.

Engagement: As of Nov. 30, 2020, roughly 16,000 people engaged with the university through events, giving or volunteer efforts. Our volunteer efforts are doing very well with 3,400 volunteers giving their time since July, compared to 3,800 during all of the last fiscal year. We look forward to combining what we’ve learned about digital engagement into a hybrid virtual/in-person event model once it is safe to do so. Regardless, the option to participate digitally in our events will be here to stay.

2020 OSU Foundation's OSU Loyal Philanthropic Partner Award
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On Nov. 17, we were honored to present Dean Emerita Ilene Kleinsorge with the OSU Foundation’s inaugural OSU Philanthropic Partner Award. She was selected by the volunteer OSU Loyal Committee. 

This award honors the long tradition that exists among OSU faculty and staff of partnering with the OSU Foundation to create a culture of philanthropy in our university community.

View the recording of the virtual OSU Loyal Faculty and Staff Donor Reception where this award was presented.

"To me, this award acknowledges that no one finds success without the help of others,” said Kleinsorge during her acceptance speech. “We, as OSU faculty and staff, are trained and educated to be educators and scholars, not fundraisers. We are so fortunate to have a strong partner in the OSU Foundation to help us in our efforts to be successful in the philanthropy necessary for us to deliver for our mission.”

Giving initiatives respond to the needs of the OSU community

In support of the university’s commitment to build a more equitable and inclusive community, we launched an effort to inspire giving and engagement that advances diversity, equity and inclusion at OSU. Created in partnership with Provost Ed Feser and Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Charlene Alexander, these gifts and volunteer opportunities will support impactful programs now and in the future for students, faculty and staff of color and other underrepresented groups. Additionally, this initiative will help us identify people who have an interest in continuing to help the university advance its DEI goals through more significant investments. Learn more. 

In another giving initiative, the OSU community is joining together in December to make a difference in the lives of OSU students facing food insecurity. Gifts to our Beavers Fight Hunger initiative will fund OSU's Human Services Resource Center (HSRC) as well as the OSU-Cascades Food Pantry; and thanks to the generosity of an OSU alumna who made a $25,000 challenge gift, donations will have even more of an impact. Visit the webpage.

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Donors support faculty excellence

Endowed faculty positions provide critical support that helps the university recruit and retain world-class faculty and advance OSU’s teaching, research and outreach mission. I’m excited to share that we’ve published a webpage where you can learn about these distinguished OSU researchers, teachers and mentors as well as the donors who are supporting their important work. OSU now has more than 150 endowed faculty positions.

President’s Dinner recap

At our premier annual event to celebrate Milton Harris Society members last month, we shattered previous attendance records with more than 400 people from across the country tuning in, from New Hampshire to Los Angeles, to Houston to Corvallis. This year, we welcomed 17 individuals and organizations to the Harris Society.

The virtual celebration was filled with inspiring stories of student and faculty accomplishments made possible by our donors. This was President Alexander’s and my, in my new role as President and CEO of the Foundation, first participation in this celebration of philanthropy. I am grateful to OSU alumna and KGW Channel 8’s Cathy Marshall, ‘82, Liberal Arts, and engineering student Fabi Carrillo for being our emcees for the evening.

Important end-of-year giving information

As this year comes to a close, please be aware of our year-end deadlines to ensure that last-minute gifts can be receipted as 2020 contributions for tax purposes.

  • Gifts may be hand-delivered or phoned in (800-354-7281) to the OSU Foundation Corvallis office until 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Dec. 31. (Please note that our office is open but with limited staff onsite due to COVID precautions.)
  • If gifts are mailed, they must be postmarked by Dec. 31 (save the envelope!). All gifts postmarked in 2020 will be receipted as 2020 donations for donor tax purposes.
  • Online gifts may be submitted via credit card through the OSU Foundation website until 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Dec. 31, but please remember that the legal date of the gift for a credit card donation is the date the bank authorizes the charge.
  • Securities received by the OSU Foundation’s brokerage account by Dec. 31 will be eligible for a 2020 tax deduction. Note that securities transfers should be initiated at least a week in advance of year end. Contact Kevin Harvey with questions.
  • Donors wishing to take advantage of the IRA Charitable Rollover provision for 2020 must ensure the funds are transferred and received by the OSU Foundation by Dec. 31. Contact Darla Meyers with questions.

These deadlines are also available on the 2020 Year-End Giving web page.

Thank You

Thank you again for your partnership as we work together to further OSU’s mission. Best wishes for the holiday season. I will write again in January with a mid-year update.

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Shawn L.  Scoville
President & CEO
OSU Foundation