Santa Clara University

This year, SCU headed into uncharted fundraising territory when the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation offered $1 million on the condition that 9,000 undergraduate alumni make a gift to SCU before June 30.
 
This was the first participation grant in SCU’s history, and raised questions. How would alumni respond? One year after a record 8,145 alumni donated, could SCU raise the bar again?
 
With the academic year at the halfway point and just over 6,000 gifts already accounted for, the early returns on the Leavey Challenge show that alumni are well on their way to securing $1 million for their alma mater. Another encouraging fact is that the challenge has inspired nearly 400 alumni, from the class of ’62 to ’12, to make their first-ever gift to the University.
 
“Alumni have shown amazing school spirit and generosity since we announced the challenge in September” says Mike Wallace, assistant vice president for development. “It would be a terrific fundraising milestone to meet and exceed the University’s first major participation grant.”
 
According to Wallace, many corporations and foundations view alumni participation as a clear indication of satisfaction with the educational experience provided by their alma mater and a validation of the direction of the University.
 
There’s still work to be done with 3,000 gifts needed before the June 30 deadline. But thus far, alumni are showing foundations and corporate donors that they are more than up to the challenge of participation grants.
 
For more info about the grant, the Leavey Foundation, and to keep up to date on the Leavey Challenge visit www.scu.edu/LeaveyChallenge.