University of Oklahoma donors are a loyal bunch. Even in beleaguered economic times, they still step up and give to the university. Alumni and friends have continued donating to OU, albeit on a smaller scale in recent years.
OU reporter Nanette Light, writing in Sunday's Transcript, said the dollar value of donations to OU for the last six months of 2009 was down 22 percent from the same period in 2008.
It's similar to what is happening nationally. The number of OU donors, however, continues to rise. OU President David L. Boren, joined by stepped up efforts at the college and program level, have increased the number of givers from 17,000 to 110,000 in about 15 years.
Although large gifts with naming rights garner many of the headlines, scholarship donations have personal impact. That amount has risen from $100 million to $250 million.
Those gifts will be even more important as students face tuition increases next year. OU Regents held tuition in check this past year when legislators committed to increasing the university's allocation. However, in this budget year, higher education likely won't be spared and OU will turn to parents and donors to make up the difference.
