Nearly 2,300 alumni, friends, faculty, staff, parents and students gave over $297,000 on GivingTuesday.

UD donors fuel record-breaking GivingTuesday

Article by Diane Wikso Photo by Katie Moyer | Graphic illustration by Jessica Collins December 14, 2023

Blue Hens and friends support their favorite causes on global day of giving

The University of Delaware community came together for GivingTuesday, Nov. 28, and once again broke fundraising records, with nearly 2,300 alumni, friends, faculty, staff, parents and students contributing over $297,000 to support UD programs, teams, organizations and other causes.

The number of fundraising projects featured on HenFunder, UD’s crowdfunding platform, more than doubled from GivingTuesday 2022. Donors were able to renew support for their favorite causes and explore newer initiatives in need of funding.

For alumni looking to support programs that influenced their UD experience, volunteering, mentoring and hosting a fundraising project on days like GivingTuesday enables them to make a wide impact.

“GivingTuesday provides a meaningful opportunity for the University of Delaware ROTC alumni to support and contribute to the Blue Hen Battalion,” said 2002 alumnus Charles Hills, networking co-chair for the Army ROTC Alumni Network. “Expressing appreciation and gratitude through such initiatives not only strengthens the bond between the alumni and the ROTC program but also plays a crucial role in sustaining and enhancing the quality of the program.”

Student organizations and teams were key beneficiaries of GivingTuesday support, with more than 50 student-led fundraising projects featured this year. Participation in UD-sponsored giving days is a key to their annual success.

Senior and UDSAA president Malini Gulati invited members of the campus community to share how they are making an impact through philanthropy as they passed through Trabant on GivingTuesday.

"Delaware men's volleyball is committed to providing our athletes with the best possible athletic and academic experience,” said Owen Fournier, the team’s fundraising chair. “Thanks to GivingTuesday, our outstanding fan base, including friends, family, teachers and classmates, helped us achieve our fundraising goal, which will allow us to fulfill our athletes’ wishes and build onto what is a fantastic program foundation."

The outreach and hard work started long before GivingTuesday. During Philanthropy Week (Nov. 12-17), the campus community was encouraged to learn how philanthropy makes a difference and how GivingTuesday presents a key opportunity for students, faculty and staff to give back to their favorite UD causes.

“We launched a ‘Phil Was Here’ campaign this year across campus,” said Alison Armstrong, associate director for annual giving and marketing. “With ‘Phil’ personifying philanthropy, we hope the campus community will be intrigued, engage more and make a difference through giving back.”

On GivingTuesday, the UD Student Alumni Ambassadors (UDSAAs) hosted an event in Trabant and invited passersby to explore all the fundraising projects they could support while warming up with a cup of hot chocolate.

“One of our goals is to educate campus and our peers about the importance of philanthropy,” says Kerri Oliver, UDSAA vice president of philanthropy. “We love getting to talk to people about giving, share trivia and invite them to participate in activities that help them learn more and give back.”

Blue Hens and friends looking to make an impact before the end of the calendar year can still contribute to the more than 130 fundraising projects featured on HenFunder, now through Dec. 31.

And while the holidays remain the University’s biggest giving season, Blue Hen community members can join with UD again and support their favorite causes during I Heart UD Giving Day, UD’s largest digital fundraising event, on May 1, 2024.