Our goal in University Development and the Oregon Tech Foundation is to promote Oregon Tech using philanthropic and volunteer resources in the life of the University.

Whether you have questions about ways to stay involved with Oregon Tech, how to give a gift that matters to you, or how your gift is making a difference in the lives of the students, we are happy to help!

General Questions

Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech or OIT) is the university that was founded in 1947. The Oregon Tech Foundation, founded in 1969, is a nonprofit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) . Gifts to Oregon Institute of Technology are accepted by the Oregon Tech Foundation, and these gifts may be considered tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.

The Oregon Tech Foundation Board of Directors includes community and business leaders who have experience in finance, education, real estate, agriculture, medical sciences, and various other fields. Many of these volunteers are also Oregon Tech alumni. The Foundation Board sets policies, reviews investments, establishes fundraising priorities, and works collaboratively with the Oregon Tech president. The day-to-day operations are handled by the executive director and professional staff members. Meet the staff here.

A limited portion of Oregon Tech’s budget is provided by state appropriations. Support from donors enables Oregon Tech to build a great university and maintain an unparalleled level of excellence for students. Your gift is especially important as state support continues to decline. Our students need your help to ensure that Oregon Tech can continue to provide state-of-the art equipment and the high standard of instruction.

Yes! Please email us, university.development@oit.edu, or call us, 541.885.1130, to learn more today!

Cash Contributions: Are made by cash, check, or credit card. These gifts may be the part of an outright gift or a planned gift.

Non-Cash Contributions: Include securities, real property, and/or personal property. These gifts may be the part of an outright gift or a planned gift.  Please contact us if you are considering making a non-cash gift.

Please send checks to:

Oregon Tech Foundation
3201 Campus Drive
Klamath Falls, OR 97601

Donations from private individuals help support scholarships, new facilities, equipment and buildings, new courses and expanded programs, innovative teaching programs, research, endowed faculty positions and many other areas that advance and support Oregon Tech. Learn more about how your gift can help here.

Matching gifts are a great way to increase the impact of your support. If you work for an employer with matching gift benefits, please ask your human resources department for more information on having your gift matched. Learn more about matching gift programs here.

Yes. Tribute gifts are a meaningful way to recognize special loved ones or to celebrate joyous occasions. Please contact us for more information on how to make a gift that best honors your loved one.

Yes, to the extent allowable by law. You must claim the gift on your tax return. The Oregon Tech Foundation is a nonprofit IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) organization that is structurally separate from Oregon Institute of Technology and exists solely for Oregon Institute of Technology’s benefit, serving as the preferred channel for private gifts to all areas of the University.

Yes, a letter will be sent to you acknowledging the gift.

If you have established a recurring payment and need to cancel or change it, please contact Allison Gromley at 541.885.1131 or allison.gromley@oit.edu.

Endowments

An endowment at an educational institution is typically a permanent endowment in which the principal is preserved in perpetuity and a percentage of the value is spent on an annual basis for support as designated by the donor.

Endowments can be created with a one-time gift, installment gifts for up to five years, a planned gift, or created through a bequest or beneficiary designation.

A professional member of our staff can guide you through the various options in creating an endowment and discuss the minimum levels for endowments. Please contact us for more information.

Yes, you may continue to add to the principal of an endowment.

Endowments can be created for almost anything! Examples include scholarships, faculty positions (including department chairs), academic programs, athletics, student support, and the Shaw Historical Library.

Yes, you can!

The Oregon Tech Foundation's Investment Policy sets the spending percentage for endowments. Currently the rate is 4% of a sixteen quarter trailing average. The rate used is a reflection of the returns expected on investments, the cost of administering the funds, and the ability to provide growth of the endowment to allow future generations to receive a similar financial benefit of those today.

The minimum amount to create an endowed fund is $10,000.

Operations Funding

Foundation operations are funded through a combination of revenue including disbursements from a quasi-endowment established from a planned gift, endowment management fees, an administrative/gift fee, a portion of unrestricted gifts, and direct support from Oregon Tech.

The OTF is committed to efforts which result in private support to Oregon Tech and a part of funding those efforts comes from a five percent administration/gift fee. Like a large percentage of foundations affiliated with public universities, an administrative/gift fee helps support fundraising efforts and the costs associated with fundraising and administration of gifts.

Like the vast majority of other foundations, the OTF charges an annual fee to manage endowed funds that are invested in perpetuity. The administrative fee helps pay for programming support, such as scholarship recipient profiles, annual scholarship banquet, annual endowment statements, and staffing to manage funds. Because we want to maximize our endowment’s growth over time, we keep this annual management fee to a minimum, currently 1% of the market value of the endowment.

More questions?

Have a question that is not answered here? Just ask! We'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Email us or call 541.885.1130.

University Development

 541.885.1130
 541.885.1148
 university.development@oit.edu

Office Location:

735 Commercial Street
Klamath Falls, OR 97601

Mailing Address:

Oregon Tech Foundation
3201 Campus Drive
Klamath Falls, OR 97601