The Oxford Thinking Campaign is the largest and most successful fundraising campaign for higher education in Europe, having raised £3.3 billion from more than 170,000 donors. The campaign was publicly launched in May 2008 with a target of £1.25 billion. It brought together fundraising activities from across the university and its colleges, with an ambitious financial goal in support of the institution’s mission to advance learning through teaching and research. This goal was met in 2012, and the fundraising target was subsequently increased to £3 billion. The completion of the campaign was announced in October 2019. The impact of the campaign is immense: £722 million was raised in support of research activities. £434 million was raised for buildings, infrastructure and equipment, including the Beecroft Building, Europe’s most advanced research facility for physics. More than 175 posts have been supported, 135 of which are fully or partially endowed, thus securing the future of a wide range of subjects. Projects in support of access, outreach, and public engagement have also flourished through the campaign. The campaign has raised ambitions for fundraising at Oxford, and has inspired other higher education institutions in the UK and across Europe. It has also led to greater professionalisation of fundraising at Oxford, enabling us to improve best fundraising practice and to share it with our peers.
