Supporting Students, Supporting Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) has been prominently featured in Fortune, Forbes, and Entrepreneur Magazine as a Columbus Business Leader with the initiative “Supporting Students, Supporting Ohio.” The feature, available in both online and print editions, highlights OFIC's key programs, Talent for Ohio and Corporate Connections, underscoring their significant impact on the community and the state.
OFIC has been actively shaping Ohio's economic landscape for almost 75 years and is proud to have been recognized by Forbes as a Community Business Leader in Columbus. OFIC represents 32 member campuses, hosting nearly 75,000 students collectively. Primarily focused on funding student scholarships and fostering career pathways between campuses and local businesses, OFIC is diving into new impactful initiatives such as "Next-Level Fundraising" and "Talent for Ohio," which significantly enhance student support and career readiness across the state.
Talent for Ohio
With a strategic focus on forging partnerships between member campuses and corporate Ohio, OFIC’s Talent for Ohio initiative is set to boost the trajectory of student success while addressing critical workforce needs. Rooted in a deep understanding of the potential that graduates bring to the table, Talent for Ohio emerges as a compelling pillar of OFIC's ambitious three-year strategic plan.
At the heart of this initiative lies a profound recognition of the power of partnerships. Bill Spiker, President of OFIC, emphasized that while OFIC has been focused on its fundraising efforts over its 73-year history, the organization is now set to expand its mission by partnering with member campuses to forge lasting career and philanthropic connections with the corporate landscape of Ohio.
“Our core mission has always been to financially support students at independent Ohio institutions in completing their bachelor’s degrees,” says Spiker, noting that those with a college degree statistically earn a lifetime income of $1 million more than their non-degree counterparts. “With our new strategic plan, we’re focusing on ‘Next-Level Fundraising’ to increase support of students in pursuit of their bachelor’s degree, as well as our ‘Talent for Ohio’ initiative, which seeks to strengthen career connections between campuses and corporations.”
The OFIC is committed to supporting students across Ohio, and Forbes Business Spotlight highlighted just that. OFIC deeply appreciates the ongoing support from our current advocates in championing student success and fortifying Ohio's talent pool. As we continue to shape the future of Ohio's economy, we invite more supporters to join us in this vital mission. Together, we can make an even greater impact on the lives of students and the prosperity of our state.
About OFIC
The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges provides student scholarship funding while building career connections between campuses and corporate Ohio. For nearly 75 years, the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) has facilitated win-win-win scenarios between Ohio’s independent college and university campuses, Ohio students, and Ohio companies. Today, OFIC is comprised of 32 member campuses across the state, representing just under 75,000 students. OFIC connects students with Ohio’s top corporations and foundations to make the dream of completing their bachelor’s degree a reality through scholarships, internships, and career opportunities. Learn more at ofic.org.