Swosu Foundation, Inc.

What Swosu Foundation, Inc. does

SWOSU Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1977 and headquartered at 100 Campus Drive, Weatherford, Oklahoma, that raises and stewards charitable resources for Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU). It operates three integrated programs: the SWOSU Foundation (general fundraising and endowment stewardship), the SWOSU Alumni Association, and the SWOSU Athletic Association. The foundation serves SWOSU alumni, emeriti, faculty/staff, community supporters, and corporate partners across Oklahoma, with primary donor segments including individual alumni donors, athletics supporters, planned-giving benefactors, and a small set of corporate sponsors such as Dobson Fiber, Hill's Pet Nutrition, and Great Plains Driving School.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions and is diversified across seven streams: one-time and recurring donations, planned giving (bequests, stock, real estate, retirement assets), event-based fundraising (Athletic Auction, Dobson Golf Classic, Football Championship Weekend, Charitable Hunt, Sporting Clay Shoot, SWOSU Giving Week, Rodeo), athletic sponsorships, tiered Athletic Association memberships ($100 Contributor through $7,500 Legend), President's Leadership Class sponsorships (minimum $2,000/year), and naming rights for spaces in the $27 million Jerry & Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy & Rural Health, priced from $15,000 to $1,400,000 over multi-year pledges. Distribution is conducted through an online giving portal, mailed checks, regional SWOSU Near You alumni events, and direct corporate outreach.

The underlying technology stack is described as standard nonprofit donor management and communication platforms with no proprietary features, AI/ML components, or public API services. Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees led by Chair Michael Hart, Chair Elect Jeff DeFehr, Secretary Melani Mouse, and Treasurer Marc Hatton, with day-to-day operations staffed by approximately eight named professionals across alumni relations, athletic development, scholarships, and foundation administration.

Name

Swosu Foundation, Inc.

Legal name

SWOSU Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://swosufoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SWOSU Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has raised charitable resources for Southwestern Oklahoma State University since 1977, supporting scholarships, athletics, emergency student aid, and capital projects through donations, planned giving, events, memberships, and corporate sponsorships primarily from alumni and Oklahoma-based supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Foundation Fundraising Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAK

Education Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDALAOAB

Fundraising & Annual Giving

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Alumni Relations, Development & Campus Community Engagement

SECONDARYEDALAIAN

Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Athletics, Recreation & Fitness

SECONDARYBPAGAKAB

Community Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGADAE

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• University fundraising
• Alumni association services
• Athletic booster programs
• Scholarship fund management
• Planned giving services

Headquarters

HQ city

Weatherford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The foundation accepts one-time and recurring charitable gifts from alumni, emeriti, and community supporters. Donors can designate their contributions to specific programs, departments, or initiatives including scholarships, athletics, and general university support.
2. Planned Giving: The foundation offers planned giving vehicles including bequests through wills or trusts, gifts of stock and bonds, real estate donations, and retirement asset donations to provide long-term support for the university.
3. Event-Based Fundraising: Revenue generated through signature events including the Annual Athletic Auction, Everett Dobson Golf Classic, SWOSU Football Championship Weekend, SWOSU Charitable Hunt, Sporting Clay Shoot, and SWOSU Giving Week.
4. Athletic Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships supporting athletic programs including naming rights for facilities, event sponsorships, and contributions to the SWOSU Athletic Association membership tiers.
5. Athletic Association Memberships: Annual memberships at various tiers (Contributor $100 through Legend $7,500) providing access to events, passes, scoreboard recognition, and parking benefits.
6. PLC Sponsorships: Annual donations of $2,000 or more to the President's Leadership Class program, providing recognition and event access for sponsors.
7. Naming Rights and Facility Sponsorships: Naming rights sponsorships for spaces in the Jerry & Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy & Rural Health, ranging from $15,000 to $1,400,000 over multi-year pledge periods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

SWOSU Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that raises and stewards charitable resources to advance Southwestern Oklahoma State University beyond state appropriations. The foundation operates donation programs, planned giving vehicles, signature fundraising events, athletic association memberships, alumni services, and capital-project naming-rights sponsorships, channeling all funds to scholarships, athletics, faculty recognition, and emergency student assistance.

Product overview

The SWOSU Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has worked for nearly five decades to help Southwestern Oklahoma State University raise resources beyond state funds. Rather than a unified technology product, it offers a portfolio of programs and services including: donation management (general giving, planned giving, faculty/staff payroll giving, and Giving Week), student financial support (scholarships, Bulldog Angels emergency fund, and the Presidential Leadership Class), athletic engagement (Athletic Association membership, 13 sport-specific giving programs, Athletic Auction, Vacation Raffle, and Rodeo), alumni relations (Alumni Association, Traveling Bulldogs, Homecoming, SWOSU Near You events, and Clocktower Bricks), and signature fundraising events (Charitable Hunt, Dobson Golf Classic, Sporting Clay Shoot, Football Championship Weekend, and North Family Lectureship). The foundation also manages naming rights sponsorships for the $27 million Jerry & Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy & Rural Health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bulldog Angels Fund: Emergency assistance fund for SWOSU students in crisis, established in 2014
• PLC (President's Leadership Class)
• SWOSU Giving Week
• SWOSU Near You

Products and services

• SWOSU Foundation General Services The SWOSU Foundation manages charitable donations, alumni relations, and institutional advancement for Southwestern Oklahoma State University, serving as the bridge between generous alumni and community and the needs of students.
• Scholarship Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 359 students helped since 2014 through Bulldog Angels Fund
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Black Oak FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2026Black Oak Farms in Devol, OK hosts the annual SWOSU Charitable Hunt featuring guided bird hunts, skeet shooting, live auction, and dinner. The event supports SWOSU's Department of Parks and Recreation Management.
• Hill's Pet NutritioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Hill's Pet Nutrition (a Colgate-Palmolive company based in Clinton, OK) serves as the Friday Night Main Event Sponsor for SWOSU Football Championship Weekend. The company specializes in scientifically advanced pet nutrition formulations and has eight manufacturing sites in the U.S., with Director of Manufacturing Kale Sawatzky ('15) as a former SWOSU football student-athlete.
• Great Plains Driving SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Owned and operated by Rocky Powell ('81, '84) and Ginger Powell ('79), Great Plains Driving School provides driver education and road testing services. Rocky is a former SWOSU football player, member of the 1977 Apple Bowl team, and former Bulldog coach who helped lead SWOSU to the 1996 NAIA National Championship. Serves as the Saturday Football Legacy Golf Tournament Sponsor.
• Dobson FibercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2026Dobson Fiber serves as the Title Sponsor for the 2026 Everett Dobson Golf Classic. Everett Dobson (SWOSU Class of 1981 & 1999 Distinguished Alumnus) has been a major benefactor to SWOSU athletics and academics through this sponsorship and endowed chairs in business.
• Oak Tree NationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe prestigious private golf course in Edmond, Oklahoma hosts the annual Everett Dobson Bulldog Golf Classic, one of SWOSU Foundation's signature fundraising events.
• Cedar GateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCedar Gate in Kingfisher, Oklahoma hosts the annual Shoot For The Stars Sporting Clay Shoot with two scenic courses designed for every skill level. Benefits the SWOSU Department of Engineering Technology.
• Lucille's HotelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLucille's Hotel in Weatherford partners with SWOSU Foundation for homecoming events and football championship weekend accommodations, with a room block reserved for event attendees.
• McNellie'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcNellie's pub locations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa host SWOSU Near You regional alumni events, providing venues for alumni networking gatherings.
• Eischen's BarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEischen's Bar in Okarche hosts SWOSU Near You alumni events, known for their famous fried chicken and Western Oklahoma community connections.
• Elk City Golf & Country ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElk City Golf & Country Club hosts SWOSU Near You regional alumni events in western Oklahoma, providing a venue for alumni and friends networking.
• Prairie West Golf ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrairie West Golf Club in Weatherford hosts the SWOSU Football Championship Weekend Golf Tournament, a scramble-style tournament benefiting the SWOSU Football program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Oklahoma State University Foundation: OSU's fundraising arm and 501(c)(3) supporting scholarships, athletics, and capital projects at a fellow Oklahoma regional university. Closest comparable in mission, scope, and NCAA Division I/FBS athletics fundraising model.
• Langston University Foundation: Langston's 501(c)(3) fundraising arm supporting scholarships and capital projects at Oklahoma's only HBCU. Comparable in scope as an Oklahoma-affiliated university foundation with scholarship and capital project programs.
• Cameron University Foundation: Cameron's affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation supporting scholarships, athletics, and capital projects at a small Oklahoma regional university. Direct peer in scale, mission, and NCAA Division II athletics scope.
• East Central University Foundation: ECU's affiliated 501(c)(3) fundraising and alumni organization supporting scholarships, athletics (Great American Conference), and capital projects at a peer Oklahoma regional university.
• Southeastern Oklahoma State University Foundation: SOSU's fundraising foundation supporting scholarships, athletics, and capital projects at a fellow Great American Conference NCAA Division II institution. Highly comparable scale and donor base profile.
• University of Oklahoma Foundation: OU's affiliated foundation raising charitable funds for scholarships, athletics, and capital projects at Oklahoma's flagship university. Directly comparable mission, donor base, and NCAA Division I athletics scope.
• Northeastern State University Foundation: Oklahoma regional university foundation supporting NSU programs, scholarships, and athletics. Closely comparable scale, regional Oklahoma footprint, and NCAA Division II / MIAA athletics model.
• Northwestern Oklahoma State University Foundation: NWOSU's university foundation raising funds for scholarships, athletics, and capital projects at a small Oklahoma regional university. Closely matched in scale, regional scope, and donor structure.
• University of Central Oklahoma Foundation: UCO's affiliated fundraising foundation supporting scholarships, athletics, and capital projects at an Oklahoma regional university with NCAA Division II athletics. Comparable mission and donor engagement model.

Others

• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE): Professional association serving advancement professionals at educational institutions. Not a direct competitor but a benchmarking, training, and standards body that SWOSU Foundation staff and trustees engage with for fundraising best practices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpLKNcvIQbd8531v1o6ZrwA
• Facebookfacebook.com/swosufoundationandalumni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swosu-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/swosualumni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swosu Foundation, Inc.