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NORMAN, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma today announced a historic milestone in its Lead On campaign, surpassing its original $2 billion fundraising goal and setting a new goal of $3 billion. The announcement was made today during the OU’s Annual Gala: Milestones and Momentum, where university leadership, donors, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate the campaign's success and unveil Lead On. For Oklahoma. For the Future, an expanded vision for OU's future.
Since its public launch in October 2022, Lead On has united the OU Family in support of the university's mission to change lives through academic excellence, research and innovation, and service to Oklahoma and beyond. With more than $2 billion raised to date, the campaign has become the most successful philanthropic initiative in OU history, providing vital resources to advance the university's strategic priorities.
The campaign's expansion comes at a defining moment for OU, as the university undertakes ambitious investments in research, academic infrastructure and the student experience. From the launch of Project 200, a generational investment in research and innovation that aims to recruit approximately 200 leading researchers, to major capital initiatives across campus, OU is building upon years of institutional progress to strengthen its position as a top-tier public research university. The next chapter of Lead On will align philanthropic support with this momentum, creating new opportunities for donors to help shape the university's future.
"Reaching our original $2 billion goal is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the unwavering dedication of the OU Family," said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. "Private philanthropy is essential to realizing our ambitions as a top-tier public research university. Because of our donors, we are expanding access to an OU education, advancing groundbreaking research and strengthening our ability to serve the people of Oklahoma and beyond. This next chapter of Lead On will help us build on that progress, pursue even greater possibilities and change lives."
A Historic Campaign of Impact
Philanthropic investments made throughout Lead On have expanded opportunities for students, strengthened academic and research programs, supported student-athletes and advanced critical university initiatives. Among the campaign's notable gifts is a historic $150 million commitment from Harold Hamm, the largest single gift in university history, to advance health education and research at the Harold Hamm Health Campus at the University of Oklahoma and the OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center.
Throughout the campaign, more than 85,000 alumni, friends and supporters demonstrated their commitment to OU's future, including 47,000 first-time donors and 44,700 gifts of less than $100, reflecting the collective impact of contributions of all sizes. At the same time, 362 gifts of $1 million or more provided significant investments in university priorities, helping advance initiatives that will benefit generations of Sooners.
Additional gifts have made a lasting impact across the university, including a $15 million investment from Jonny and Brenda Jones supporting the renovation and expansion of Jacobson Hall, now home to the Jones Family Welcome Center; a $20 million commitment from Brian and Kim Kimrey supporting OU's baseball and football programs; and a $6 million gift from Leo Mingee and Lauren Von Mingee establishing OU's largest scholarship endowment dedicated to first-generation students, expanding educational opportunities for business majors at Price College.
These gifts represent a fraction of the philanthropic support that has advanced the university's mission throughout Lead On. Beyond individual commitments, the campaign has strengthened the university's ability to attract and retainexceptional faculty, expand access to higher education and provide students with opportunities to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
"The success of Lead On reflects an extraordinary relationship between the university, the OU Foundation and the alumni and friends who so strongly believe in OU's future," said Guy Patton, president and CEO of the OU Foundation. "Because of the incredible generosity of our alumni and friends, we have laid a solid groundwork to extend the campaign which allows us to continue to support the university's most important priorities now and into the future.”
A New Chapter for Lead On
With an expanded goal of $3 billion, the next phase of Lead On will focus on three priorities that reflect the university's mission and build upon the goals of its Strategic Plan: advancing academic excellence for all, providing a place of learning and belonging and creating real-world impact.
"Every milestone achieved through Lead On reflects the commitment of people who believe in the University of Oklahoma and the lives it changes," said Jay Kahn, vice president and chief advancement officer of the OU Foundation. "As OU pursues ambitious investments in its people, programs and facilities, philanthropy will remain an essential part of that progress. Whether through scholarships that open doors for students, spaces that bring our community together or research that improves lives, our donors have an extraordinary opportunity to help shape what comes next."
As Lead On enters its next chapter, OU will continue to engage alumni, friends and supporters in advancing the university's mission. With a foundation of historic philanthropic achievement and a clear vision for the future, the expanded campaign will help ensure the excellence that defines OU continues to benefit students, communities and generations of Sooners to come.
For more information, visit LeadOnOU.org.
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 healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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The University of Oklahoma today announced a historic milestone in its Lead On campaign, surpassing its original $2 billion fundraising goal and setting a new goal of $3 billion. The announcement was made today during the OU’s Annual Gala: Milestones and Momentum, where university leadership, donors, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate the campaign's success and unveil Lead On. For Oklahoma. For the Future, an expanded vision for OU's future.
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