With gratitude!
Every Ohio University degree continues our long-held mission—a never-ending journey of education that betters our students, our community, and our world. "Forever" is a promise we mean to keep, and we couldn’t do it without you.
Forever Forward means we need individuals like you who provide students with transformative financial assistance, who fund resources that allow for a robust educational experience, and whose generosity will serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration for years to come.
It means every student that comes through Ohio University is moved by your spirit of giving, and encouraged to think about giving back to their community. Your generosity helps build the generosity of others, and together we are building a future that will endure.
Thank you for your unwavering support, your partnership and your belief in Ohio University. Forever OHIO.
My warmest regards,
Jacquelin R. Weber, BSS ’96
Senior Director, Donor Engagement
The endowments that support Ohio University have grown by over $358 million in the past 20 years. These endowed funds provide essential support for the University’s academic mission through scholarships for students, support for faculty research and creative activity, and resources for programs, partnerships, technology, and facilities.
The endowment investment portfolio is professionally managed, with a long-term objective to achieve a total return averaging at least the sum of the spending rate, administrative fee, and inflation. The portfolio is broadly diversified into traditional and alternative investments, with all positions falling into one of four broad asset caegories: global equities, global fixed income, real assets and diversifying strategies.
Endowment earnings are authorized for expenditure based on the endowment’s average market value for the trailing 36 months. For fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021, the spending rate was 4% for endowed accounts whose market value exceeded the historic gift value. Occasionally, due to a downturn in the investment market, an account’s market value may temporarily fall below its historic value. When this occurs, the endowed account is “underwater.” The spending rate for underwater endowments is 1%.