Déjà Vu: Donors Pull Through All Over Again
Published: April 13, 2021
For the second year in a row, generous donors far exceeded giving goals during Greenville Universitys #GivingTuesdayGU fundraising campaign.
The initial fundraising goal was $25,000. Donors blew past that number and raised more than $35,000 in 24 hours of giving on November 28, 2017.
It was dj vu for the staff of the Universitys Office of Development, who saw donors give more than expected for last years campaign as well. This years initial $25,000 goal was meant to bring in slightly more than last years total, but slightly more turned into a generous avalanche of support. Add in a matching $10,000 gift from one anonymous alumnus, and the University raised more than $45,000.
Alumni and friends of the University gave mostly online and mostly in support of The Greenville University Fund, which helps support student scholarships.
Director of Development Heather Fairbanks reports that the Giving Tuesday success comes on the heels of a two-night telethon earlier in the month where donors raised more than $77,000.
Efforts like Giving Tuesday and the telethon raise needed funds for scholarships and complement the Universitys various giving societies like its Heritage Circle, where supporters commit $10,000 or more to The Greenville University Fund each year for three years.
Fairbanks provided these totals after Giving Tuesday:
- Goal: $25K
- Achieved $35,810
- Number of gifts made: 63
- First gift received ($2,000 pledge) at 12:53 am
- Last gift received ($1,000 gift) at 11:43 pm
- Smallest gift: $10
- Largest gift: $5,000
Many alumni and donors spread the word, commenting on social media about why giving to the University is important to them.
- The four years I spent there have been the best years of my life so far, and I want to help that happen for other students! - Meagan Gunn 13
- I happen to work at a place that asks me to do hard things, to live my faith in a place of cost and discipleship every day, and serve brilliant students who are overcoming innumerable odds to throw their light farther into the world. - Hannah (DeLoche '10) Shanks, director of the Universitys social work program.
- Greenville University was influential in making me the person and musician I am today. - Jaron Davis 06.
For information about the Heritage Circle and other means of giving, contact Linda Myette, vice president for development: linda.myette@greenville.edu, 618-664-6501.
