For the University of Wyoming’s 12th annual Giving Day, 8,088 donors contributed $3,351,259 in support of UW colleges, programs, student organizations and more, surpassing the event’s goal of 7,220 donors. Before the day began, donors provided more than $1 million in matching and challenge funds that encouraged this level of support.

“The response to this year’s Giving Day says a lot about the people who care about the University of Wyoming,” says Scott Macdonald, chair of the UW Foundation Board. “Thousands chose to support UW and the students who will shape its future. That kind of commitment is encouraging, and I’m proud of what we accomplished together. On behalf of the Foundation Board, thank you to everyone who took part.”

UW Giving Day (www.uwyo.edu/givingday) took place from noon Wednesday, Oct. 21, to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. This year’s theme, “It’s Giving,” celebrated the many ways generosity connects the UW community. The 281 campaigns represented academic colleges and units, athletics, and student clubs and organizations, among other programs.

“Giving Day is more than a 24-hour fundraising campaign,” says Kate Schlomer, the UW Foundation’s director of annual giving. “It’s an opportunity for the UW community to show its pride, celebrate the university’s impact and help create opportunities for future generations of Cowboys and Cowgirls. Gifts of all sizes contribute to a collective effort that reaches across campus and extends throughout Wyoming and beyond.”

Since its inception in 2015, UW Giving Day has been a cornerstone event that nurtures a culture of giving at the university and across the state. It unites donors, alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the university in the shared missions of education, research and service -- and in creating a prosperous future for our state.

“The University of Wyoming is on the rise,” says Jill Higham, senior vice president for development at the UW Foundation. “Giving Day reminds us that we can all come together to ensure a better future -- for individual students and for our great state.”

The success of this year’s Giving Day was driven by the enthusiastic participation of students, faculty and staff from across the university and the passionate support of community advocates, who took to social media to spread the word. On the Monday before, UW President Shane Reeves crossed campus on a golf cart for the Cash Cart Bonanza, awarding $100 to each student’s areas of choice. Community advocates alone generated 1,656 gifts totaling $215,449.

“I want to thank all the donors for their generosity to this amazing university,” says Pat Moran, director of Campus Recreation. “I would especially like to thank those who contributed to our club sports program, allowing our student-athletes the opportunity to connect, learn and grow through a sport they love. We are truly grateful for the impact your donations make.”

This year’s Giving Day was powered by more than $1 million in incentive funds through matches and challenges that helped maximize donor impact.

The UW Foundation Board provided the $130,000 Noon Kickoff Match, the $12,000 Midnight Match and the $7,220 It’s Giving Student Match. The McMurry Foundation provided the $30,700 One Wyoming Match, and the two joined to provide the $150,000 Big Final Match during the event’s final hours. A generous donor also provided the Final Final $50,000 match to close out Giving Day. President Reeves provided a $30,000 match for UW faculty and staff.

Three new affinity challenges debuted this year, and donors unlocked all three -- the $7,000 Pokes Recruitin’ Pokes Alumni Challenge from a generous donor, the $5,000 Wellness in the WEST Faculty and Staff Challenge from the UW Foundation Board, and the $5,000 Poke Parent Challenge: Elevating Student Financial Wellness, provided by Blue Federal Credit Union. Generous donors also supported the new It’s Giving Advocacy Challenge, six participation and two power hours, and $500 prizes for the 1,886th and 7,220th donors.

Competition among the donor challenges was fierce for the award total of $65,000. Western Thunder Marching Band Hat Club claimed first place in the Big Giving Day Donor Challenge, with 617 donors who contributed $71,620. The Nordic ski team came in second, with 478 donors and $42,604, and its totals also placed it first in the Student Organizations Donor Challenge.

In the Athletics Donor Challenge, the UW rodeo team earned first place, with 452 donors giving $83,754, followed by track and field and cross country, with 417 donors giving $36,474. The women’s hockey club won the Club Sports Donor Challenge, with 367 donors and $116,305, followed by the men’s rugby club, with 225 donors and $84,077. Sigma Phi Epsilon took first in the Fraternity and Sorority Life Donor Challenge, with 143 donors and $9,923.

UW Giving Day is more than just the total money raised, however. It also is about creating a culture of philanthropy, gratitude and giving back -- not only at UW, but across the state. It’s about bringing together all of those who love Wyoming and its university and uniting them behind the common purposes of education, research and service.