Stories

In the middle of Santa Clara University’s record-breaking Day of Giving April 6, the community was treated to two surprises:

• Acting President (and former School of Law Dean) Lisa A. Kloppenberg and her husband Mark Zunich revealed that they were the anonymous donors who helped launch an endowed scholarship fund for future Santa Clara Law students
• Grateful supporters from the Law Advisory Board and the Board of Regents informed a visibly surprised and touched Acting President Kloppenberg that they had already contributed $325,000 to the Lisa A. Kloppenberg and Mark R. Zunich Endowed Law Scholarship Fund. Alumna and Oracle General Counsel Dorian Daley J.D. ’86., Hon. ’19, and her husband Michael Krautkramer had matched all donations from the Law Advisory Board—doubling the $150,000 donated by that group.

The gift represents “an amazing gift of generosity and spirit for generations to come,” said law school Dean Michael Kaufman, speaking at a mid-day celebration at Charney Hall of Law. By midnight, the scholarship fund had raised more than $483,000.

The law school’s joyful moment was a high point in a day marked with numerous highlights. In all, 5,393 gifts resulted in over $4 million raised—making this the most successful Day of Giving in terms of dollars raised.

For nine years, Day of Giving has proved to be a galvanizing day for Bronco supporters to share their enthusiasm and financial support for the more than 250 student-centered programs and causes they care most about across the Mission Campus. This year, the focus areas included student mental health and wellness, and diversity, equity and inclusion, resulting in gifts of nearly $117,000 and over $200,000, respectively. More than $1 million was also raised for student scholarships—a top University priority. 

“These amazing results from Day of Giving show the breadth and depth of support for our mission and focus on student success here at Santa Clara,” said Jim Lyons, vice president for university relations. “Our generous community offered up more than $1.1 million in challenge grants for everything from Black Excellence student scholarships to mental health services. And Broncos from all over the country stepped up to ensure our students now and in the future are richly educated in heart, mind, and spirit.”

Challenge donors either matched donations to specific programs dollar-for-dollar, or rewarded participation by unlocking their gifts when a specific donor threshold was met. There were more than 60 challenges that benefited most areas across campus. Nearly every challenge met or exceeded their goals.

Those included:

• Once 300 gifts had been made to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and scholarships, a $40,000 gift from an anonymous donor was unlocked.
• After more than 100 gifts were made to the School of Engineering, a $60,000 gift from members of the School's Engineering Advisory Board was unlocked.
• More than 100 gifts were made to student mental health programs, unlocking a $50,000 gift from the Lutton Family.
• Two challenges of $20,000 each, from the Matt Family and from Joelle Lam ’04—for Black Excellence Scholarship Fund were unlocked after 150 gifts were made and $20,000 in donations reached.
• More than 125 gifts made to LEAD Scholars unlocked a $25,000 challenge from Jen ’06 M.A. ’08 Stirling and Geoff Stirling.
• More than 100 gifts were made and $8,000 raised for sustainability initiatives at Santa Clara, unlocking two challenges totaling $50,000 from alumna Dorian Daley J.D. ’86., Hon. ’19, and her husband Michael Krautkramer.

Among the units that raised the most money were:

• Athletics ($963,149 from 1,974 gifts)
• Santa Clara Law ($600,659 from 279 gifts)
• School of Engineering ($485,295 from 275 gifts)
• Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship ($298,649 from 105 gifts)
• Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education ($219,070 from 196 gifts)

The University also expanded its payment methods by adding Apple Pay and Venmo to its traditional credit-card options. More than 5.5% of donations were made via Venmo, and more than 12% via Apple Pay. 

The full results for the day can be found on the Day of Giving website.