'Time & Change: The Ohio State Campaign' gains momentum

Publicly announced in October 2019, Time and Change: The Ohio State Campaign is the most ambitious, inclusive community-building and fundraising endeavor in the university’s 150-plus years of positively impacting the world.

The campaign is focused on three core areas: Student Success; Discovery; and Healthy, Vibrant Communities. The financial goal is $4.5 billion – the largest in Ohio State’s history. More importantly, it strives to engage 1 million supporters, an unprecedented level in higher education. The previous But for Ohio State Campaign concluded in September 2016, having raised over $3 billion from more than 750,000 donors, both university records. In that effort, the College of Engineering raised a record total of $399 million.

To reach both goals in the current campaign – $4.5 billion and 1 million donors – Ohio State will need its 500,000-plus alumni and donors to engage and pay forward like never before with gifts small and large. Once again, the College of Engineering will be instrumental in helping the university achieve these ambitions and invest in vital focus areas that champion human potential. The college recently crossed the halfway mark toward its own campaign goal of $450 million, having now raised over $230 million. 

Buckeyes have consistently embraced legendary Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes’ admonition to “always try to pay forward” – giving generously of their talent, time and treasure in their communities, to those in need, and at their alma mater.

There are currently 68,000 living Buckeye architecture and engineering alumni located throughout the world. On average each year, 14% of College of Engineering alumni donate to the university in some form, but only 6% donate specifically to College of Engineering funds.

“We aim to increase the participation rate of our alumni giving to the college to 10% annually by the end of the eight-year campaign,” said Chief Advancement Officer Chris Yates. “Encouraging first-time donors and young alumni to pay forward will help us achieve these goals and contribute to building an enduring culture of philanthropy.”

The college’s $450 million goal includes specific targets of $90 million in new endowments and $40 million in support of capital projects. Increasing funding for our architecture and engineering students – especially for undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships – is also a top priority.

Support for research constitutes well over half of the campaign funds received to date, helping to drive newly emergent strengths of the college such as cancer engineering and smart mobility. As the college strives to increase the diversity of its students and faculty and to foster a more inclusive environment, donors also have given generously to support these efforts.

Time and Change: The Ohio State Campaign is anticipated to end in 2024.