NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma has broken its previous fundraising record with over $352 million in gifts during the fiscal year ending June 30. This total exceeds OU’s previous record of $334 million set in 2024, marking another monumental achievement in the fifth year of Lead On: The University of Oklahoma’s Campaign for the Future. In total, over $1.5 billion has been raised toward the Lead On campaign goal of $2 billion.
“Reaching this milestone is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “This achievement not only reflects the passion and generosity of our community – it fuels opportunity, innovation and excellence across the University of Oklahoma. It’s a moment of celebration, but even more, it’s a launchpad for achieving our ambitious goals as an institution.”
More than 31,000 alumni and friends joined together to support the university this past fiscal year. OU received a record 72 gifts of $1 million or more in fiscal year 2025, bringing the Lead On campaign to a total of 263 $1 million+ gifts. OU Athletics has also received a record-breaking $113 million in support, surpassing the $109 million raised in 2024.
This year’s Giving Day saw OU set a new single-day fundraising record of more than $30 million. Contributions came in from all 50 states and 21 countries, with a total of nearly 7,000 gifts, pushing the university closer to achieving the goals outlined in the refreshed “Lead On” Strategic Plan.
“The Lead On campaign shows that, when the OU community comes together, we can accomplish incredible things,” said Amy Noah, vice president and chief advancement officer of the University of Oklahoma Foundation. “Every gift moves OU forward, fueling progress and ultimately changing the lives of each of our students.”
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. For more information about the university, visit www.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.
Three University of Oklahoma graduate students have been named winners of the 2025 Three Minute Thesis competition, which challenges participants to explain their research in three minutes to a non-specialist audience.
Sarah Sharif, a researcher with the University of Oklahoma, has been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to create innovative light detectors that pick up mid-wave and long-wave infrared signals at higher temperatures than previously considered achievable.
A team from OU and WVU recently earned a five-year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how concept cigarillos influence the potential for addiction. The results will be used to inform the FDA’s impending flavor ban on cigar products and could have wider-reaching implications for other tobacco products that come in flavors, such as e-cigarettes and tobacco-free nicotine pouches.
