Financial support from people interested in the sustained conservation of bobwhites, other upland game birds, and upland wildlife in general adds to the flexibility, strength, and breadth of the research program conducted by the Bollenbach Chair. This, in turn, adds to the bank of knowledge available for accomplishing wildlife management objectives.

The way to judge return on an investment in the Bollenbach Chair’s program is through publications in mainstream scientific outlets. Such publications show not only that the Chair is doing quality research, as judged by his peers in the profession, but also that the information generated is seen and used by a broad spectrum of researchers and biologists throughout the world. The program has had an excellent publication record since the first holder, Fred S. Guthery, started in 1997.

Contributions may be specified for one or more of the following programs:

This account, housed in the OSU Foundation, is for costs of operation such as research equipment, program development, and support of research by graduate students and collaborating faculty. Contributions in any amount are welcome. Contributors receive Quail Flash, a short, irregular newsletter on current issues in quail management, and Quail News, a longer synopsis of recent research findings, quail management, and management philosophy, that appears in October and March. Make checks payable to "Game Bird Research Fund/OSUF" and send them to

The Irvin Bollenbach Endowment, housed in the OSU Foundation, provides revenue for the salary and program of the Bollenbach Chair.  The endowment will remain in perpetuity.  Contributions in any amount are welcome.  Make checks payable to "OSU Foundation" and send to the address given above.  Contributors receive Quail Flash and Quail News.

Contribution: $400,000.  Revenue from this endowment will be used to support the annual stipend of an M.S. or a Ph.D. student. Graduate students on the fellowship will focus research on the stabilization and increase of upland wildlife in Oklahoma and the southern Great Plains. Topics of research include game species (bobwhites, scaled quail, pheasants, prairie chickens, wild turkeys, cottontails, squirrels) and nongame species, especially prairie and brushland birds. Upland wildlife provides countless hours of recreation for Oklahomans and visitors to the state. Likewise, game animals provide revenue to landowners as well as recreation to hunters and bird watchers. There is a need to better understand habitat relations and habitat management for Oklahoma and the region’s upland wildlife. The need extends over small (ranch, farm) and large (landscape) scales.

Contribution: $125,000.  This endowment will provide revenue of about $5,000/annum to be used in support of field research activities on upland wildlife. The graduate student stipend is usually the largest cost in field research. However, there are substantial costs associated with equipment, materials, supplies, and mileage. For example, a radiotransmitter for one bobwhite costs $150 or more. Revenue from this endowment can be leveraged in proposals to increase the likelihood of obtaining grants.

Contribution: $125,000.  A perennial need in land and wildlife management is to get the results of research to users in a timely manner. The revenue from this endowment (about $5,000/annum) will be used to support an annual conference, held in Oklahoma, Texas, or Kansas, to bring current research results and management ideas to landowners, hunters, agency biologists, and other citizens. The revenue will be used to rent facilities, subsidize food costs, create handouts and publications for the audience, and support the travel of guest speakers (as needed).

Contribution: $45,000–60,000.  These funds will be used to conduct a specific research project the contributor wishes to support.

Contribution: $25,000.  The endowment will provide revenue of about $1,000/annum to recognize outstanding contributions by individual graduate students. The award will also assist in attracting highly qualified graduate students to Oklahoma State University.

Contribution: $12,500.  This endowment will provide revenue of about $500/annum that will be used to support the travel of a worthy student to present papers at scientific conferences. Part of the experience of graduate students is to become involved in a profession by presenting the results of their research at scientific conferences. This award not only will give a well-rounded experience to outstanding graduate students, but will also help in attracting quality graduate students to Oklahoma State University.