Arizona State University supporters worldwide will exercise their generosity on March 16 for the ninth annual Sun Devil Giving Day, a 24-hour universitywide day of giving.
Sun Devil Giving Day encourages supporters to give to the people, programs and causes they care about at ASU, fostering a culture of philanthropy within the ASU community. Whether it be to advance ASU’s goals for inclusion, student success, discovery or local and global impact, Sun Devil Giving Day is an opportunity for donors to fuel some of ASU’s most impactful initiatives.
Sun Devil Giving Day is ASU’s single largest day for donors to express their generosity and help make the world a better place, said Bill Kavan, vice president of engagement and outreach at the ASU Foundation for A New American University.
“Every gift is a building block in the long tradition of philanthropy, which helps to advance education and knowledge. The first gift to ASU was the land that the campus still sits on today, and while the university has changed over the years, philanthropy remains fundamental to supporting student success and improving society,” Kavan said.
Last Sun Devil Giving Day, the ASU community donated over 4,300 gifts and raised over $880,000. This year’s goal is to inspire over 1,000 new donors and over 4,500 gifts.
“Success to me is having someone find a way to support their personal passions through ASU. No matter one’s passion, there’s a way to have a positive impact in partnership with ASU and other donors,” Kavan said.
The impact of generosity
Private philanthropic support is critical to ASU’s success and has a real and lasting impact.
For Madeline Hall, a sophomore biomedical sciences major, private support from the ASU Women and Philanthropy Scholarship enables her to focus on her studies and pursue her passion for public service.
“I was thrilled to receive a scholarship. It allowed me to focus more on making the most of my collegiate experience. And I was especially honored to have the ASU Women and Philanthropy Scholarship because it recognizes community service, which is something I'm passionate about,” Hall said.
An aspiring physician, Hall volunteers with the Refugee Education and Clinic Team, or REACT, a partnership between ASU and the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine that works to bridge the health care gap within Maricopa County’s refugee community.
At a clinic on the West campus, she helps volunteers provide primary care and steer people into long-term or established care.
“When refugees come to the U.S., they’ve been through all of these experiences I can’t even begin to imagine, and I’m glad I can contribute in some way,” Hall said.
Devin Dye, a 2019 ASU graduate and a development officer at the ASU Foundation, who raises support for the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, saw the impact of scholarship support during his undergraduate and graduate years.
Dye remembers the first time he truly understood the impact of generosity as a child. He recounts how a stranger approached his grandfather in a parking lot for help.
“And my grandfather, without hesitation, opened his wallet and helped that person out with what he could at the time,” Dye said. “Just a simple act of kindness being so powerful. It's something I'll always remember. And that generosity just has stayed with me forever.”
Whether it’s students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents or the wider community, everyone is encouraged to participate in the Sun Devil Giving spirit to connect with their values and giving passions.
Matching funds
Many donors will provide matching gifts to select funds on Sun Devil Giving Day.
For example, the Next Generation Council, ASU alumni working to uphold principles of the ASU Charter, will match gifts up to $50 made by any ASU graduate of the last 20 years on Sun Devil Giving Day until the funds are exhausted and reach $10,000.
Students can get involved in Sun Devil Giving Day too, by voting through Sun Devil Rewards on the ASU Mobile App for their favorite cause areas, including ASU Counseling Services, Pitchfork Pantry, the ASU Family Student Crisis Fund and Project Humanities.
Connect with your giving passions
Sun Devil Giving Day encourages supporters to connect with the cause they care about at ASU. Donors will be able to find funds that support these, and other, initiatives at the university:
- Protecting the planet.
- Serving the community.
- Advancing student access and success.
- Creating equity in higher education.
- Conducting research for the public good.
Get involved
There are many ways to participate in Sun Devil Giving Day:
- Donate to an initiative you care about in any area of ASU at asufoundation.org.
- Join the conversation and spread the word on social media with #SunDevilGiving.
- Follow ASU Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
- Vote, if you are a student, to give to a cause you care about through Sun Devil Rewards on the ASU Mobile App.
- Double your impact by giving to a fund that is being matched.
Top photo courtesy ASU Enterprise Partners
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