Stories

Broncos nationwide with passions for everything from ethics to engineering to water polo helped Santa Clara University break donor records in the University’s fifth annual Day of Giving effort March 7.

The day, dubbed “All In for SCU,” set a new record for number of gifts to SCU ever in a single day, beating last year’s record of 5,324 gifts. Donations came from every state in the country— including two intrepid Broncos representing solo from North Dakota and South Carolina.

The total $3.2 million in donations was boosted by more than $300,000 in matching funds that donors unlocked by completing challenges such as number of gifts made or dollars raised. Fifteen unit or program challenges created by donors including Hon. Edward A. and Lorna Panelli; Lew Wolff; the Nadel and Macdonald families and others, met or exceeded their challenge goals.

In all, the proceeds will support over 30 different schools, programs, or centers at Santa Clara in their missions of educating “whole persons” for excellence in service to humanity.

“Yesterday we watched with pride and gratitude as Broncos across the U.S. came through with tremendous support, social media encouragement, and donations, to ensure that future generations of Broncos will continue to have rich and life-transforming experiences at SCU,” said James Lyons, vice president for University Relations. “The energy and zeal for SCU that was shown during the 24-hour Day of Giving validated all that we know is great and special about this University.”

Many units on campus had tremendous one-day giving totals.

• The Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship raised over $1 million from 212 gifts
• Bronco Athletics raised $272,384 from 1,825 gifts
• The Jesuit School of Theology raised over $265,000
• The School of Law garnered $150,750
• The Leavey School of Business raised $131,778 from 356 gifts
• The Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education raised $61,555 from 137 gifts
• The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics raised $34,384 from 142 gifts.

The Santa Clara Fund, which helps fund the most urgent needs of undergraduates including scholarships, academic enhancements, study abroad/immersions, and student initiatives, raised $134,535.

Some specialized programs that were relatively new participants in Day of Giving began to hit their stride, too. The Center for Sustainability, in its inaugural year in Day of Giving, raised about $10,000 from 122 gifts; the LEAD Scholars Program, which provides support and services for students who are the first in their families to attend four-year college, raised nearly $11,000 from 115 gifts. And a group of centers and programs for Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives raised about $7,000 from 76 gifts.

Results for the day can be found at https://givingday.scu.edu.

Although All In for SCU is a one-day event, it requires extensive planning by a staff of more than 50 who work for weeks to pull it off.

The effort was also supported by a nonstop social media campaign. More than 600 Tweets reached more than 180,000 users and helped unlock $5,000 for scholarships; more than 150 Instagram posts helped raise awareness and $5,000 for the Ignatian Center; and nonstop content on Facebook, Snapchat and LinkedIn served to rally alumni and supporters to the event in the days leading up to Day of Giving. More than 325 predesignated Bronco “ambassadors” raised over $171,000 by using their own social media networks to encourage giving.