This year marks the tenth anniversary of the university fundraising event called Giving Day. During the first Giving Day, the event only raised $11,000 but it has since amassed millions. UW Foundation created the tradition and continues to run it to this day.
Director of Annual Giving and Donor Experience Program, Clancee Rea explained that donations can be made by anyone who wants to contribute. This includes past alumni, current students, and even people who have never been to UW but still want to help improve the university. “We call them friends of the university,” Rea said.
Anyone can fundraise with the university on Giving Day, whether they be a college, a single department within a college, or a student group. This year, 62 student groups are fundraising. Some include the Wyoming Climbing Club, the Chess Club, the Spanish Club, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Student Art League.
Each group seeking funds has their own campaign. They can upload a picture to the Giving Day website explaining what their program is and why donations matter to them. Some organizations go above and beyond by creating short videos to promote their cause.
“We continue to increase in donors, dollars, and campaigns from year to year,” said Annual Giving Manager, Emilee O’Brien. Last year, donations reached $3,605,192 with 8,879 individual donors. 207 campaigns raised funds. The year before, 159 campaigns raised $4,107,408 from 6,296 donors.
O’Brien said, “With it being the tenth anniversary, we are hoping to reach 10,000 donors or more.”
The Giving Day theme this year is The Power of Ten, and the motto is “Send to Ten,” meaning people involved should share their campaign with ten other people to get as many donations as possible. Donors can give any amount of money, so no one should be afraid to give too little.
There are some bigger incentives to donate this year, as well. UW Foundation has allocated $360,000 to support something called “matching”. If a donor gives $100, the Foundation will match it and also give $100, doubling the total donation amount. Other donors have already agreed to take part in the matching as well.
Giving Day will take place from noon to noon on Oct. 23 and 24.
