NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma has achieved a monumental milestone, shattering its previous fundraising record with a remarkable $334 million in gifts during the fiscal year ending June 30. This total surpasses OU’s previous record of $317 million set in 2022, marking another significant achievement in the fourth year of Lead On: The University of Oklahoma’s Campaign for the Future.
As of July 1, the campaign has exceeded the $1.1 billion mark of its $2 billion goal, with nearly $258 million earmarked specifically for student support.
“Year after year, I’m reminded that the outstanding generosity of the OU community can turn our boldest aspirations into reality,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “As we prepare for an era of even greater growth and academic excellence, I'm endlessly grateful to our donors for enabling us to provide essential student support, making a world-class education accessible to all.”
More than 31,000 alumni and friends contributed to this year’s record-breaking success, highlighting a significant increase in annual donors from the beginning of the campaign. This surge can be attributed in part to the popularity of Giving Day, during which OU set a new single-day fundraising record by raising an impressive $26.6 million in 2024. Contributions came in from all 50 states, as well as 16 countries worldwide.
OU also received a record 62 gifts of $1 million or more in fiscal year 2024, bringing the Lead On campaign to a total of 190 $1 million+ gifts.
Before the campaign and the implementation of OU’s Lead On Strategic Plan, the university typically raised an annual average of $135 million. That amount nearly doubled in the first year of the campaign. Since its launch, OU has received over 300,000 gifts, underscoring remarkable donor commitment, and has welcomed more than 28,000 first-time donors to the university, indicating a growing engagement among donors, especially young alumni.
“Our incredible donors and their generous contributions demonstrate that anything is possible when the OU family unites,” said Amy Noah, vice president and chief advancement officer of the University of Oklahoma Foundation. “Their overwhelming support not only drives the success of our ambitious Lead On campaign but also enriches the core of our university: OU students.”
The new fundraising record also underscores the profound impact that gifts of any size can have on OU students, who rely on philanthropic support to access an affordable OU experience.
“OU's friends and alumni continue to elevate the university’s standards of excellence and leave an indelible mark on its history through this groundbreaking fundraising campaign,” Harroz said.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent Best Colleges list. For more information about the university, visit ou.edu.
About the OU Foundation
The University of Oklahoma Foundation is an independent charitable organization that facilitates and manages philanthropic gifts to support the University of Oklahoma. With a culture of integrity, skill and persistence, we align the passions of donors and our alumni with the indelible mission of the University of Oklahoma.
The University of Oklahoma has received a transformative gift from Jon and Shannon McCartney, which will name the McCartney Family Tunnel of Champions, the McCartney Family Gate of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and the McCartney Family Grand Lecture Hall in the Michael F. Price College of Business. The gift will also support the Inspiring Champions and the Athletic Director’s Discretionary Fund, in addition to establishing the McCartney DFW Career Trek program at Price College.
The University of Oklahoma today celebrated the opening of a new air traffic control tower at the OU Max Westheimer Airport. Standing 106 feet tall, more than double the current 52-foot facility, the new tower will modernize air traffic control operations and improve safety for pilots and students operating in the airspace.
Do I buy groceries or pay the electric bill? Should I pawn some of my belongings to afford my prescription? My child is sick, so I will have to miss work to take care of him. Those are just a few of the difficult choices that OU-Tulsa health professional students confronted during the Community Access to Resources Experience. The role-playing activity challenged students to navigate the financial, family and other pressures that can affect a person’s health and ability to follow medical advice. Held annually during the SCM Institute orientation week, the experience is designed to generate understanding and build empathy.
