Fundraising at the University of Oxford
Development and Alumni Engagement works with alumni, donors, volunteers and partners to build lifelong relationships and secure support that helps Oxford tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges.
We collaborate with colleagues across the collegiate University to secure donations for all aspects of academic and student endeavour.
The generosity of donors helps us to ensure that the most talented students can study here regardless of background, that our research provides benefit on an international scale, and that our expertise is brought to bear on some of the world’s biggest challenges.
Development and Alumni Engagement
Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE) at the University of Oxford is led by Liesl Elder, Chief Development and Alumni Engagement Officer, supported by Antony Green, Kirstine Knox, Kate Lawton, Holly Peterson and Gareth Simpson.
DAE’s core purpose is to generate significant and sustainable philanthropic support for Oxford’s strategic priorities, while nurturing a warm, active and lifelong relationship between the University and its global community of alumni, supporters and friends.
In addition to a core team based in Oxford, DAE also has offices in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
What does DAE do?
DAE works with alumni, donors, volunteers, advocates and partners to build enduring relationships with Oxford. It seeks to understand their interests, concerns and motivations, connect them with the University’s institutional priorities, and provide meaningful opportunities to contribute through philanthropy, volunteering, expertise, advocacy and other forms of support.
The multi-billion-pound Oxford Excellence campaign, which launched publicly in April 2026, is the vehicle through which DAE is securing substantial philanthropic funding for graduate scholarships, academic posts, capital projects and strategic initiatives, while also supporting our academics to tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges in the areas of health, climate and society.
Alumni engagement forms a core component of Oxford Excellence, with our end goal being to set a global benchmark on how universities define, demonstrate and celebrate the impact of their alumni.