UAF breaks another Giving Day record with $834,000 raised

The University of Alaska Fairbanks had another record-breaking turnout during the third annual UA Giving Day event Feb. 22-23.

Over the course of 49 hours, more than 800 donors contributed $834,244 to support students and programs at UAF, an increase of more than 26% over the amount raised during the previous Giving Day event. The total included 46 large matching gifts from dozens of sponsors.

Donations will go toward a wide variety of programs, including merit- and need-based scholarships for UAF students, scientific research, academic programs, Alaska Nanooks athletics and the planned Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center.

“UAF’s alumni, employees, students and friends showed up in force this year to help us exceed our goals yet again,” said UAF Chancellor Dan White. “Their support allows UAF to contribute to our state by educating tomorrow’s workforce, researching solutions to complex challenges and serving our communities via outreach and technical expertise.”

UAF’s top fundraising goal, the Troth Yeddha’ Indigenous Studies Center, drew gifts from 165 donors, the largest number of people to give to a single UAF program in the history of Giving Day.

Alumni giving remained high this year, spurred by several alumni-specific challenges and matches from businesses and university and community leaders. Alumni gifts made up nearly half of Giving Day donations.

“Alumni giving has been on the rise in recent years and is the bedrock of our philanthropic culture at UAF,” said Theresa Bakker, UAF alumni relations director. “Our alumni are our legacy and our fiercest champions. I am so grateful for their support during Giving Day and year-round.”

UA Giving Day is a crowdfunding-style philanthropy event. It ran from 10 p.m. on Feb. 21 through 11 p.m. on Feb. 23. UAF donors came from 37 states and 5 countries. 

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