UC Board Endorses $800 Million Capital Campaign Goal

The University of Cincinnati Foundation will undertake an $800 million fund-raising campaign on behalf of the University. The campaign will conclude in 2013.

Based on the needs of the University and research into the capabilities of alumni and friends, President Nancy L. Zimpher and UCF Board Chair Jeffrey P. Williams recommended the campaign goal and that the campaign run for 8 years, from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2013. UC’s Board of Trustees approved the proposal on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The campaign will be the largest in the 188-year history of UC.

Among expected campaign priorities are student scholarships, fellowships to encourage advanced scholarship and research, endowed appointments for top-notch faculty, academic program support and campus enhancements.

Under the leadership of UC’s provosts, deans are now prioritizing an original list of $2.5 billion worth of identified needs and creating unique cases for support. Colleges are completing drafts of their visions and goals for the campaign.

Throughout the campaign, the Foundation expects to have more than 500 volunteers actively engaged. Regional committees will also focus on cultivating relationships with alumni and friends. Work has already begun in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, and Silicon Valley.

Co-chairs for the campaign will be UC alumni Otto M. Budig, Jr., president, Budco Group, Inc.; H. C. Buck Niehoff, Peck, Shaffer & Williams LLP; John F. Barrett, chairman/president/CEO of Western-Southern Financial; Stanley M. Chesley, senior partner, Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley; C. Mack, Yvonne C. and Oscar P. Robertson, President, OR Solutions; George A. Schaefer, Jr., chairman, Fifth Third Bancorp; S. Jay Stewart, retired chairman, Autoliv Inc., Richard E. Thornburgh, vice chairman, Corsair Capital, Margaret K. Valentine, vice president & secretary, Valentine Research, Inc; Edward W. Wedbush, president & CEO, Wedbush Morgan Securities; Steven A. Wilson, Retired president & CEO, The Nielsen Company; and Anthony Zingale and UC friend David B. Dillon, chairman & CEO, The Kroger Company.

Jeffrey P. Williams, president, Jeffrey Williams & Company LLC; and Jeffrey L. Wyler, president & CEO, Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, Inc. and UC President Nancy L. Zimpher will serve as ex-officio chairs and former UCF Chair James C. Kautz and Ellen Rieveschl will serve as honorary co-chairs.

Campaign co-chairs are tasked with assisting the Foundation in building and organizing the campaign, and will provide focus on reaching the corporate community, friends and alumni of UC. Additionally, regional chairs will develop volunteer groups around the country. Colleges and units will have campaign chairs focused on their unique campaign priorities for their students, faculty and programs.