Oregon State University Foundation
Steven Lont has over 20 years of work experience in various roles at the Oregon State University Foundation and Oregon State University. Steven'swork at the Oregon State University Foundation includes positions such as Director of Marketing and Creative Services, Director of Communications, Interim Director of Communications, and Communications Specialist. Prior to their time at the foundation, they worked as a Development Writer (GTA Position). Additionally, they worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Oregon State University.
Steven Lont began their education by attending Grand Rapids Community College from 1992 to 1994, although no degree or field of study was specified. Steven then proceeded to the University of Michigan from 1994 to 1996, where they completed their Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a focus on Creative Writing. Steven Lont furthered their education by pursuing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Creative Writing at Oregon State University, from an unknown start year to 2003.
Oregon State University Foundation
The OSU Foundation partners with the university to engage the broad OSU community, inspire investment and steward resources to enhance the university’s excellence and impact. The OSUF, entering its 75th year, is a nonprofit organization, separate from the university, and governed by a Board of Trustees. The OSUF and the OSU Alumni Association are integrated and employ approximately 160 professionals. While building relationships with alumni, parents and friends is a university-wide responsibility, all fundraising positions are housed in the OSU Foundation. The Foundation aspires to be one of the best foundations in North America and acts in full alignment with the university. As of June 30, 2022, the Foundation holds assets surpassing $1.1 billion and manages an endowment of more than $764.5 million. Donors gave a record $216 million in fiscal year 2022. In Oct. 2022, the Foundation publicly launched Believe It: The Campaign for OSU, the university’s second comprehensive fundraising and engagement campaign, with a $1.75 billion goal for student and faculty support, facilities and equipment and emerging strategic initiatives. Since work began on the campaign in 2017, donors have contributed more than $1 billion toward the goal. The first Campaign for OSU concluded in 2014, having raised $1.14 billion in ten years, which made OSU one of only 35 public universities at the time to have crossed the billion-dollar mark in a fundraising campaign. Between campaigns, the Foundation and university partnered on a series of successful strategic fundraising initiatives designed to advance goals in the university’s strategic plan and maintain fundraising momentum. The OSUF, under the leadership of CEO and President Shawn L. Scoville, seeks to build on this powerful momentum to support OSU’s expanding aspirations, establish industry-leading fundraising and engagement growth and further energize donors, alumni and volunteers to engage with the Believe It campaign.