UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — On Nov. 28, Penn State celebrated its ninth GivingTuesday event, and for the ninth time, Penn Staters around the world set both participation and fundraising records, making 13,587 gifts to collectively contribute more than $1.4 million toward campaigns University-wide.
“Investing in community is what GivingTuesday is all about, and it makes me incredibly proud to see how Penn Staters showed up for today’s students,” said David J. Lieb, interim vice president for development and alumni relations. “The passion, heart and generosity of this community are unmatched.”
The University’s event was driven by nearly 180 participating campaigns — another record figure — led by students, staff, faculty and alumni interest groups representing every Penn State college and campus. The number of participating student organizations was the highest to date, with 54 campaigns promoting a wide array of student interests, nearly double the involvement seen in 2022. Student organizations collectively raised nearly $67,000, with the Skull and Bones Senior Honor Society raising the most funding and the Penn State Mock Trial Association bringing in the highest number of gifts. Across campaigns University-wide, the number of student donors increased 36% from last year.
"GivingTuesday is always such a special day, and this year's record-level turnout was particularly exciting,” said Emma Pulkowski, vice president of the Student Philanthropy Network, a student organization that leads various philanthropic education and fundraising efforts at the University. “Witnessing the influx of students championing their initiatives and actively engaging with the community filled me with an even deeper sense of Penn State pride."
Overall, gifts made during GivingTuesday came from alumni and friends in 47 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and 20 countries. The campaign to support the Penn State Fund for Penn State Dickinson Law raised more than $79,000, the highest total of all campaigns. A first-time campaign hosted by Penn State Sustainability to protect and increase bird and insect biodiversity led the way for highest number of gifts received with 407, followed by the Penn State Alumni Association’s campaign to provide free Blue & White Society memberships (242 gifts) and the Penn State Blue Band’s effort to build program support (234 gifts).
Continuing a trend of alumni and friend engagement that took off in 2022, 273 individuals enlisted themselves as champions, creating personal fundraising pages to drive additional support for their campaign of choice. These donors set new records for champion fundraising success, helping to secure 772 gifts and more than $34,300.
Jenny Daigle Benoit, executive director of annual giving, spoke to the power of GivingTuesday participation.
“Students come to this University with individual aspirations, and they graduate ready to bring their dreams to life because of collective support like what we witnessed on GivingTuesday,” she said. “This event continues to be one of the best examples of what ‘We Are’ looks like in action.”
Gifts made on GivingTuesday advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.