Fueled by the enthusiasm of students and support from alumni and friends, CSUN’s record-setting Giving Day, on March 6-7, raised over $525,000, more than doubling the $236,000 raised in 2023. Excitement built throughout the 36-hour campaign as the Giving Day website recorded fundraising progress in real time, tracking thousands of contributions to programs across CSUN, supporting areas from academic departments, to student success initiatives and even student clubs.
“It was thrilling to watch donations roll in every minute of Giving Day,” said Nichole Ipach, Vice President for CSUN University Relations and Advancement. “It was a testament to the love people everywhere share for CSUN, from our students, to our alumni, to our friends and neighbors in the San Fernando Valley and beyond.”
Club members rallied to support Giving Day, thanks to a challenge from President Erika D. Beck, who awarded an additional donation through the CSUN Brighter Future Fund to the top three student clubs or organizations that received the most donors. Matador Motorsports earned the $2,500 top prize for donors to its Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Vehicle Fund. The $1,500 second prize went to the Archery Club, and the $1,000 third prize went to the Badminton Club.
“We saw several clubs come together to support each other” on Giving Day, said engineering graduate student Elliott Sadler ’22 (Mechanical Engineering), who is president of both the Archery Club and the Associated Students Sport Clubs. “The leadership from Archery as well as Badminton collaborated specifically to promote each other on social media.”
Sadler said the Archery and Badminton clubs will use funds raised for new equipment and to offset coaching costs. “Because of the growth of the (Archery) club we have a need for more bows and arrows, as well as some new safety equipment,” he added.
Ipach said the vast majority of Giving Day donations were under $25 each, making the grand total all the more impressive. But there were big surprises for CSUN on Giving Day, as well, including an unexpected $50,000 gift to the College of Science and Mathematics from an anonymous donor. The gift is designated for the Department of Geology’s field work program, she said.
“It was a great day for CSUN and a great day for Matadors everywhere to share the love for all of our programs that help shape the future and build a brighter tomorrow,” Ipach said.
On Giving Day, social media influencers shared posts and videos about CSUN, helping to amplify the campaign, Ipach said. During the event, alumnus Alexis Aleman ’19, Biology, shared an Instagram Reel on his handle @foosinmedicine about his love for CSUN. The video has earned more than 31,000 likes.
Ipach said Giving Day was a tremendous success in only its second year at CSUN.
“As the final seconds ran down on Giving Day, and all the matches and donor challenges were tallied, more than 2,500 donors helped us raise over a half-a-million dollars, which is remarkable,” she said. “We are already thinking about Giving Day 2025 and how we can harness the love for our university in new and exciting ways. But first, we’re just so thankful to each and every one of our Giving Day supporters who donated gifts of any size. Every dollar we raised makes a difference for our students.”
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