THRIVE CAMPAIGN LIVES UP TO ITS NAME
Donors fund $33.9M in improvements at Oklahoma Christian University
An unconventional capital campaign launched by Oklahoma Christian University three years ago was so successful it will be the university’s fundraising model going forward, President John deSteiguer said. The Thrive campaign ended Wednesday, surpassing its $30 million goal. More than 9,300 donors made gifts and pledges totaling $33,940,222.
“The amount of money that has been raised has been remarkable. The number of people who have invested in Oklahoma Christian — from small gifts to really extraordinary gifts — that has been remarkable, as well,” deSteiguer said. “We have never had a three-year period of fundraising where we had as many people involved as donors,” he said. “We believe fundraising is very, very personal. It’s all about relationships.” OC officials think the campaign’s success also is tied to its transparency. The public could go to the Thrive website throughout the process and see how fundraising was going for each proposed project. People appreciated the openness, said Kent Allen, vice president for advancement. With no silent phase, the campaign started at zero and supporters could watch the totals grow from start to finish.
If the response to a project was poor “it caused us to ask ‘Is this something that we really need to be doing or is this the right timing?’ It was both refreshing and stressful at times,” Allen said.
If the money isn’t there, OC either scraps the project or waits until the full cost is raised, he said.
As officials were talking about Thrive on the final day of the campaign, Allen received word that a first-time donor had just made a $500,000 commitment.
Student experience
Thrive’s success is a testament to the commitment alumni have to OC and their desire for students today and in the future to have a good experience on campus, deSteiguer said.
Their gifts are essential for the improvement students enjoy — from the updated fitness center to the campus cafe undergoing renovation — because the university doesn’t use students’ tuition to fund capital projects, he said.
Eighty percent of undergraduate students live on campus and want those amenities.
“The most important thing is the academic experience, but there are so many things that go handin-hand with that,” deSteiguer said. “We want them to know they’re going to get a great academic experience here, but we also want them to know they’re going to get a great social and spiritual experience.”
Students are getting the message. Enrollment numbers the past 10 years have been the highest in the school’s history, with record enrollments at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for the year just completed, he said.
Will Blanchard, director of advancement operations, said officials worked to involve students in Thrive and let them vote on how to spend a $275,000 gift. Their pick was the new campus cafe, a 15,872-square-foot addition to the Gaylord University Center. The total cost is $6.4 million. The work isn’t done, but improvements have opened in phases as they are completed.
The Brew coffee shop, which opened in April on the second floor of the Mabee Learning Center, is popular with students and staff and is open to the public, as well.
After the project was underway, it was discovered the plans lacked a sprinkler system. The cost suddenly increased at least $175,000, Blanchard said. The faux pas was posted on the website and people stepped up with the additional funds. All told, 21 givers provided the $551,000 for The Brew.
Flexible, fast
Thrive has funded a general scholarships fund, a high-definition projection system in Hardeman Auditorium, apartment renovations and a new spiritual life initiative called Ethos.
A latecomer to the campaign was fully funded and opened in the fall. The Advanced Visualization Lab wasn’t on the original list, Blanchard said. It was added after Jeff Price, professor of gaming and animation, pitched the idea.
“He gave us dreams and ideas, and we pitched that out,” Blanchard said. “It became a menu item and, lo and behold, we have a gaming and animation lab.”
The fundraising model allows that flexibility, which is another advantage, deSteiguer said.
“The beauty of this campaign is the money that we have raised turns around very quickly into improving the venues and the experience for our students,” he said.
Thrive is officially over, but it is the new pattern for raising money at OC going forward, deSteiguer said.
“I want to keep growing.”