Otterbein to Increase Gift Minimum to Establish Named Scholarship Endowments

Since its founding in 1847, donor support has been the cornerstone of Otterbein, propelling it to be a bold leader in higher education, regionally, and nationally. Building on the historic philanthropic support from Otterbein’s last $50 million comprehensive campaign and its most recent $11+ million fundraising year, Otterbein is taking steps to further maximize the impact of its endowments to benefit talented, deserving students. Beginning July 1, 2026, the minimum gift required to establish a named endowed scholarship will increase from $25,000 to $50,000.

Endowments created for non-scholarship purposes will remain at the current $25,000 minimum level. The new minimum will not apply to commitments already in place or new gifts and pledges for endowments made by June 30, 2026.

Now is the time to make a lasting impact that will live in perpetuity by creating your own named scholarship endowment.

It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Otterbein community. For starters, as of Oct. 1, we are now the Division for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, reflecting our focus on inspiring meaningful giving and strengthening alumni connections.

As a community, we have a lot to celebrate! In case you didn’t hear, we had our third-best fundraising year since 1990, raising more than $11 million in gifts and pledges in fiscal year 2025. Thank you to each and every donor who made this success possible — it’s because of you that we are able to work with our talented students and faculty, in fulfilling our mission.

In my first few months, I’ve had countless heartfelt conversations with alumni and friends who clearly hold Otterbein close to their hearts. Many have shared the impact the University has had on their lives, how their closest friends are those they met here (and sometimes spouses, too!), and how they credit Otterbein — and its people — for who they are today. My short time at Otterbein has shown me one undeniable truth — the strength of this community lies in its deep care and compassion for one another. From the students to the faculty and staff, alumni, donors, and friends, Otterbein is a special place because of the special people here.

We are very excited to be working with a consultant to begin planning for Otterbein’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign. You may recall that our last campaign, Where We STAND Matters, ended in 2018 and raised $52.7 million. We believe that we are ready to embark on a new campaign to position Otterbein for a bold new chapter in our history. Our achievements in enrollment growth, academic excellence, and community partnerships have laid a powerful foundation for what’s next.

I am so grateful to be a part of this incredible community and stellar University. As a first-generation college graduate, I am passionate about helping young people, and I hope we can partner on something you are also passionate about that inspires you to make a difference in our Cardinal community.

Thank you for welcoming me, and I look forward to connecting with you!

Floyd Akins, Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

Adam Rothermel ’06, M.D.

“I graduated from Otterbein in 2006 with a bachelor of science degree in Molecular Biology. The education I received laid the foundation for medical school and my career as a general surgeon. Otterbein gave me more than just knowledge; it gave me direction, discipline, and a deep respect for the human body.

My wife and I recently created an endowment to support the University’s anatomical donation lab because we believe that cadaveric study is one of the most profound and humbling experiences in medical education. It is where students begin to understand the true weight of their responsibility as future healthcare professionals.

We wanted to give back in a way that honors that distinct educational milestone — when science meets humanity — to ensure that future Otterbein students have access to the same transformative experience I once had at Otterbein.”