Chico State’s Annual Giving Day—24 Hours, 100 Worthy Causes

A single financial gift to Chico State can help students in many different ways. Thousands of gifts will transform lives and the trajectories of those students’ families.

On Wednesday, March 2, from midnight to 11:59 p.m., the University will host Chico State Giving Day, its annual 24-hour fundraising effort to benefit dozens of campus causes, from scholarships and student success centers to Wildcat Athletics and basic needs. With more than 100 participating causes, a gift to any area will count toward the University’s Giving Day totals during the drive—with special goals wrapped into the day’s events.

Day-of activities for this year’s Giving Day will take place in Trinity Commons from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., including a tabling fair to meet dozens of the causes fundraising that day.

Evelyn Buchanan, associate vice president for University Advancement, noted that Giving Day is the ideal time for current students, alumni, and their families and friends to come together for a common goal.

“Giving Day offers opportunities to support the programs dear to the hearts of our campus community and to make a difference for Chico State students,” Buchanan said.

Last year, more than 2,500 University alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends committed to 3,100 financial gifts totaling nearly $540,000 and supporting 169 causes. Since the first Giving Day in 2017, more than $1.5 million has been generated for student success through these 24-hour fundraisers.

To add some excitement and inspiration—not to mention healthy competition—members of the University Board of Governors and Tower Society are offering Challenge and Matching Gifts as special rewards to unlock throughout Giving Day. For example, the 1887 Founders Challenge, celebrating Chico State’s founding, unlocks $10,000 to support students’ greatest needs when 1,887 donors make a gift. Matching gifts include up to $5,000 to double the impact of gifts from alumni who graduated between 2012 and 2021.

Timed challenges with bonus awards will also happen throughout the day, including a pair of “Power Hours,” family challenges, and first and final gifts. And a “Race to Unlock the Map” has the potential to release more than $24,000 if gifts can be secured from across the country. In total, there is more than $130,000 in matching and challenge funds—the most in Giving Day history.

“Once unlocked, these challenge gifts will maximize the philanthropic dollars for Chico State,” Buchanan said. “It’s a way for our entire community—from the students all the way to the University Board of Governors—to work together to help transform the future of our campus.”