Why is the campaign so important now?
Oswego has offered a great education for thousands of students, even in a climate of reduced state funding. Greater resources will give us the first new building in 35 years, will give us the flexibility to make decisions and the resources to implement them, and will ensure our future with a stronger endowment.

Doesn’t Oswego get all of its funding from the state?
Throughout its history, Oswego has relied primarily on tax-supported public funding and, in more recent times, on tuition revenue. While college funding from New York state will always be vital to us as a public institution, this support has decreased as a percentage of the college budget in recent decades and there is little likelihood that it will increase substantially in the future.

Why not just raise tuition?
Oswego does not have the authority to set tuition and, as a public college, should be as accessible to as many students as possible. Raising tuition would hurt students who count on an Oswego education as their ticket to achieving the American dream.

What are endowment funds and how do they work?
Gifts to endowment are invested by the Oswego College Foundation and generate annual income in perpetuity.  The annual payout (currently, 4% of the endowment's value) is spent for the purpose designated by the donor - scholarships, program support, stipends, etc. Additional income generated annually is returned to the principal of the fund, so that its value grows over time to protect against inflation. The minimum gift needed to establish an endowed fund is $10,000. Investments are overseen by the Investment Committee of the College Foundation Board of Directors.

How can I support scholarships for students?
You may establish a new endowment with a minimum gift or pledge of $10,000, contribute to an existing endowment, or designate your annual gifts to the General Scholarship Fund.

What types of gifts count for the campaign?
There are four basic ways of giving:
1. Cash or cash equivalents, including property and appreciated securities
2. Gifts of insurance
3. Planned giving arrangements such as trusts and annuities
4. Bequests — including Oswego in your will for a specific dollar amount, property, or a percentage of your estate

All gifts and pledges made during the campaign will count toward the goal. Written pledges made during the campaign may be fulfilled over a multiple-year period.

“Every year at Oswego, the faculty and staff raise the bar in terms of educational excellence and campus experience — an amazing feat considering the reductions in state support. The Campaign for Oswego will gather the resources necessary to take this college to a new level of accomplishment, one that will have a most positive effect on students, faculty, alumni, and the community.”
—MAE SQUIER-DOW ’83, CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR

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