The George Washington University is gearing up for its annual Giving Day, a philanthropic campaign that unites the community in a collective effort to support the university's mission.
Daniel J. Burgner, the executive director of annual giving at GW, said the purpose of Giving Day—which begins at noon on April 3—is to create a sense of pride through philanthropy at the university.
“One of the best parts about Giving Day is that people can choose any area of the university to donate to,” Burgner said. “We want our community to be excited to give to an area of they are passionate about.
“People can give to their college or department, a research initiative, a student organization, an athletic team, scholarships and more, with many opportunities throughout the day to amplify the impact of their gift,” he added. “Everyone can follow their philanthropic interest and find a home for their gift at GW.”
Donors participating in the 24-hour event will witness the immediate impact of their contributions as the university showcases real-time updates on its Giving Day website. Heat maps, leaderboards and progress trackers will illustrate how the collective community effort is directly benefiting students and faculty across various programs.
Last year's Giving Day surpassed all expectations, with the university exceeding its goal of 2,750 donors. Nearly 3,200 individuals contributed to this record-breaking achievement, with donors from all 50 states and 30 countries. The university raised over $1.2 million, buoyed by over 65 matches and challenges that amplified donor impact.
The 2023 campaign focused on engaging more members of the GW community, resulting in a diverse array of contributions. Ten GW schools and units exceeded their goals, showcasing the breadth of support across the university. Notably, GW Hillel topped the leaderboard, achieving 186% of its fundraising goal.
“It was so inspiring to see the entire GW community come together to support our students on Giving Day,” Burgner said. “GW Giving Day 2023 marked the most donors in a single 24-hour period in our university's history and we are eager to see the GW community come together again this year.”
To kick off this year's Giving Day festivities, a celebration will take place on April 3 from noon to 3 p.m. on Kogan Plaza. GW community members are invited to join in, grab a snack, pick up some GW swag and connect with fellow supporters.
Learn more about how GW is expanding access to the transformative power of a GW education through scholarships and fellowships.