Oxford Thinking, The Campaign for the University of Oxford

The University of Oxford’s historic benefactors, from Sir Thomas Bodley and Elias Ashmole to Dervorguilla of Galloway and Dorothy Wadham, established a legacy of philanthropy that continues today. Yet, unimaginable as it may seem, even some of Oxford’s most established beacons of excellence such as the Bodleian Library, the Botanic Garden and the Ashmolean Museum, have all suffered through periods of decay and disrepair. Continued investment, has been needed to restore such buildings to their modern glory, and is still needed to sustain and advance the academic needs of the whole University.

Launched in May 2008, Oxford Thinking – The Campaign for the University of Oxford, continues Oxford’s philanthropic tradition by inspiring the vision and generosity of alumni and friends of the University. Its aim is to sustain and enhance Oxford’s world-leading reputation in research and teaching, and to provide financial security that will guarantee the future of the collegiate University in the increasingly competitive twenty-first century environment. The Campaign goal is to raise a minimum of £1.25 billion for the University and colleges, making it the biggest fundraising campaign in European university history. Yet this is not just a fundraising drive, but an effort to enable colleges, divisions and departments to sustain, the highest level of excellence.

Oxford Thinking has three major priorities driven by the joint academic priorities of the University and the colleges. First, to attract and support the very best students, irrespective of their financial situation, by providing the bursaries and scholarships for future generations of Oxonians to thrive and succeed when they are at Oxford. Second, to invest in academic posts and programmes, securing permanent posts and research funding to attract and retain the world’s finest academics. And third, to provide the buildings and infrastructure to support some of the world’s most advanced research and teaching facilities and to preserve the unique spirit of the collegiate University.

Oxford is entering an era of unprecedented building, from the University estate to the colleges. The Oxford Thinking Campaign supports a host of transformative projects which will not only upgrade bricks and mortar, but contribute to academic brilliance.

The Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, for instance, is one of the University’s most significant building projects in more than a century. It will bring the Humanities Division together for the first time in more than 800 years and will become a flagship site for teaching and research in the Humanities and Mathematics.

Many of Oxford’s renowned libraries, museums and architectural treasures, including the Bodleian Library and the Ashmolean Museum, will be restored and renewed, and public access increased.

Colleges, too, thanks to donors to the Campaign, will be able to provide an enhanced experience for students: there will be more scholarships and better facilities for work and play. Oxford’s tutorial system, which provides the closest contact between scholar and student of any university in the world, can be preserved.

Gifts already include $50 million donated to Christ Church by Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman, £25 million to the New Bodleian Library, to be known as the Weston Library by the Garfield Weston Foundation, and a £25 million Strategic Development Fund for the Saïd Business School created by Mr Wafic Rida Saïd, as well as many other generous gifts. Donations to colleges have risen by more than 50 per cent since 2006-7.

Successful Campaign events have been held in cities worldwide, including Tokyo, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Toronto and New York, and in May 2009 a new donor recognition society, the Vice-Chancellor’s Circle, was launched to honour benefactors who have provided generous support to the collegiate University. The Vice-Chancellor’s Circle has 100 founding members and includes University and college donors, alumni and non-alumni, individuals, trusts and foundations, and corporate organisations. Members come from all over the world including North America, Australia and Asia.