# Oxford University launches £1.25 billion campaign

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/05/28/oxford-university-launches-125-billion-campaign/
- Published: 2008-05-28T17:51:51+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The University of Oxford has launched its biggest ever fundraising campaign, aiming
to raise at least £1.25 billion.

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/news/Radcliffe_camera_qbirdnumber1_flickr_1221253394.
jpg)

At the campaign launch donations totaling £575 million were revealed, including 
£25 million pledged to the development of the New Bodleian Library by the Garfield
Weston Foundation, the largest gift ever made by the Foundation. In addition Wafic
Rida Saïd is creating a Strategic Development Fund for the Saïd Business School 
with a capital value of £25 million.

At the same time, more than 20,000 individuals, foundations and organisations have
given to the campaign in its pre-launch phase from 1 August 2004 to 31 March 2008.
The vast majority of these have been for £25,000 and below.

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The Campaign for the University of Oxford aims to “sustain and enhance Oxford’s 
international reputation and provide security in a world of uncertain state funding
and growing global competition”.

The Campaign will include a specially designed booklet which will be sent to all
Oxford alumni, asking them to support the campaign. The theme of the Campaign is‘
Oxford Thinking’ and the literature points to the 47 Nobel prizes awarded to ‘Oxford
thinkers’.

The Campaign was launched by The Chancellor of the University of Oxford, the Rt 
Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, CH, The Vice-Chancellor, Dr John Hood and the Chairman
of the Campaign for The University of Oxford, Dame Vivien Duffield, with leading
Oxonians including Michael Palin, Richard Dawkins and Sir Roger Bannister.

www.campaign.ox.ac.uk