Western Oregon University Development Foundation

THE WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION EXISTS TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES IN ORDER TO SERVE AND SUPPORT THE MISSION AND VISION OF WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY

538 WOU STUDENTS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $1,002,895 SCHOLARSHIPS, STUDENT AID AND STUDENT LOANS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THEIR EDUCATION AND ADVANCEMENT TOWARD THE COMPLETION OF THEIR DEGREES. THE WOU FOUNDATION BOARD, ADVANCEMENT AND UNIVERSITY STAFF ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN OUTREACH TO GROW OUR CAPACITY TO AWARDING MORE AND LARGER AMOUNTS OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE MANY ON-GOING CURRENT USE AND ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS, WE WORK WITH NEW AND EXISTING DONORS TO CREATE NEW NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS, ENDOWMENTS OR TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND. SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO LIVE MORE FULLY, WHILE FOCUSING ON THEIR EDUCATION BY MAKING COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE.

THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO SERVE, SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY. THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FOUNDATION ARE TO INCREASINGLY RECRUIT AND RETAIN VOLUNTEER AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN MENTORING, FUNDRAISING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ENRICH THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE.AFTER COMPLETING RESEARCH WITH DONORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND ALUMNI, BASED IN APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY, THE FOUNDATION HAS ESTABLISHED A VISION FOR THE FUTURE: TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT INCREASES THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN OUR EVER-CHANGING GLOBAL ECONOMY AND SOCIETY. TO THIS END, WE ARE FOCUSING ON RAISING FUNDS IN THREE KEY AREAS: SCHOLARSHIPS, WOLVES ATHLETICS AND STUDENT SUCCESS.

THE FOUNDATION SPONSORS UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ASSIST STUDENTS IN THE PURSUIT OF CULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH DONORS TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF NEEDS ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY. GIFTS COME FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, AND FOUNDATIONS. A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SUPPORT COMES THROUGH EVENTS INCLUDING GIVING DAY, WOLVES ATHLETIC AUCTION, WOLVES ON THE GREEN GOLF TOURNAMENT, AND THE SMITH FINE ARTS SERIES AUCTION. DURING THESE EVENTS ALUMNI, EMPLOYEES, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS DESIGNATE THEIR AREAS OF SUPPORT WHICH INCLUDE THE FUND FOR WOU, EMERGENCY STUDENT AID, WOU FOOD PANTRY, SCHOLARSHIPS, MODEL UNITED NATIONS, SMITH FINE ARTS SERIES, STONEWALL CENTER, VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER, WOLVES ATHLETICS AND MORE. FUNDS RAISED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCREASINGLY SUPPORT THE WOU FOUNDATION'S SMALL COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM THAT HELPS CREATE INNOVATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS WHILE ENRICHING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE.