This year, the Ohio University Foundation has awarded $270,442 to 17 new research and education initiatives from the 1804 Fund. Projects that promote research and scholarly activities, multidisciplinary work and innovations in graduate education were selected. The 1804 Fund, established in 1979 by the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees, supports the university's core mission of maintaining, strengthening, and enhancing a high-quality, learning-centered educational experience.

Since it was endowed, the 1804 Fund has awarded more than $14 million "to enhance the quality of University programs and life" through its support of faculty research and graduate studies as well as undergraduate learning.

"A visionary gift, made 30 years ago, continues to have a profound impact as 'seed money' to promote research and innovation and has allowed quality programs to grow and flourish at Ohio University," said Howard R. Lipman, vice president for University Advancement and president and CEO of the Ohio University Foundation.

The Ohio University Foundation Board Emeriti Trustees Committee has made increasing the 1804 Fund Endowment one of their priorities.

"The goal of the Foundation is to improve the quality of Ohio University," said Victor Goodman, chair of the Grants and Funding committee of the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees. "The importance of the 1804 Fund is to grow new ideas that may otherwise be unable to take root in the confines of normal department budgets," Goodman added.

To make a gift in support of the 1804 Fund, contact Dorothy Schey in University Advancement at 740-593-4556 or schey@ohio.edu.

Faculty and staff interested in applying for the next award cycle must have a preliminary discussion with Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College Rathindra Bose or with Dean of University College and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies David Descutner, prior to March 15. More information is available online at www.ohio.edu/research/Funding.cfm (scroll down to the 1804 Fund information) or www.ohiou.edu/univcollege/fund/.

Click here to see a full list of this year's recipients.