Backing the BeavsAlumni and friends rally behind a new era of OSU Athletics.

The ground has shifted under college athletics, creating new financial pressures. But Oregon State University supporters aren’t just sitting back. Alumni and friends have stepped up to help the university navigate student-athlete revenue sharing, critical facility enhancements and the need to improve the game day experience. This support comes at a pivotal moment, as OSU prepares to compete in the new Pac-12, which launched July 1.

“I am proud of the way we have come together to overcome these obstacles,” said OSU President Jayathi Murthy. “The present moment provides an opportunity for Beaver Nation to build on our legacy as fierce competitors who play to win.”

One of the biggest changes is a new set of NCAA revenue-sharing rules that allow Division I universities to pay student-athletes directly from athletic department funds. That creates a major new annual expense at a time when competitive programs already require significant investments in coaches, facilities and support services.

Enter the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation. The Valley Challenge for Student-Athletes will support student-athlete revenue sharing: If donors contribute $8 million per year to OSU Athletics, the Valley Foundation will unlock an additional $8 million each year for up to three years. If fully matched, the challenge will generate $48 million to recruit and retain student-athletes. 

Access to top-notch facilities also makes a difference when student-athletes are trying to decide which program to choose. Ten donor families, led by an anonymous donor, recently committed a total of $25 million to build the university a new Field Sports Building. The facility will provide space for training, treatment, film study and more for 150 student-athletes in softball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s cross country and women’s track and field. 

Of course, facilities matter to fans, too. In June, OSU also announced an anonymous gift to fund improvements to Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. The $15 million right-field overhaul will add bleacher seating, upgrade spaces for spectators and build a clubhouse for the Corvallis Knights, the summer collegiate baseball team that shares the facility. 

Together, the three initiatives could direct as much as $88 million toward some of OSU Athletics’ most immediate competitive needs.

Shawn L. Scoville, president and CEO of the Oregon State University Foundation, which led the fundraising efforts, said the support will help turn the challenges of a changing athletics landscape into opportunities. 

“The philanthropic momentum for OSU Athletics is real,” he said. “We couldn’t be more grateful for this group of donors leading the way, and to the thousands of other supporters and fans who show up for Beaver Nation in so many ways — with their own gifts or by wearing Beaver gear, purchasing tickets and tuning in on game day.”