March 2015

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 20, 2015— Santa Clara University set a new record for one-day participation and proceeds from its second annual Day of Giving challenge, “ALL IN FOR SCU” March 18.

During the 24-hour period, the university raised $1,221,016 from 4,855 donors -- more than a 50 percent increase over the previous year’s record-setting showings for single-day proceeds.

The early goal was to reach at least 4,000 donors – 1,027 more than last year – in order to capture a $500,000 challenge grant from an anonymous alumni couple from the 1972 and ’73 classes. That goal was met at 6:50 p.m., with 855 additional donors making gifts throughout the night. The largest single gift received was for $10,000 (not counting the challenge gift). During the peak of the day, SCU was receiving around eight new gifts per minute. 

“SCU’s Day of Giving was an inspiring and overwhelming show of support by Santa Clara Broncos – from the first gift of the day of $10,000 to the final stretch when donations were still coming in strong,” said James Lyons, vice president for University Relations. “The comments we received throughout the day reinforced what we’ve long known: Broncos are proud of their school, want to give back, and want SCU’s unique blend of excellence and Jesuit values to thrive for years to come.”

The total of 4,855 donors was 63 percent increase over the previous year’s record 2,973 donors. The $1,221,016 represented a 53 percent increase over last year’s $795,785 total.

All In For SCU featured a staff of at least 125 people engaging in weeks of planning. Forty different e-mails were sent on the day to tens of thousands of alumni and supporters -- with no more than three e-mails sent to any one person during the day. The morning e-mail to kick off the Day of Giving was sent to more than 57,000 alumni from SCU President Michael Engh, S.J., and raised $171,873.

Donors were invited to give to scholarships, programs, departments and areas that they are passionate about– from a fund for the future Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building, to the engineering and business schools, the Centers of Excellence or the general Santa Clara Fund.

The effort was supported by social media posts by organizers and participants alike. Participants also were invited to share their donor number on Facebook and other social media. Online donors were provided with All In for SCU logos to post to their Facebook status, and on-campus supporters could take photos of themselves at a photo station in front of Benson, which some people used to memorialize their giving, urge friends or classmates to give, or thank large donors.

About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California’s Silicon Valley, offers its more than 9,000 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, and engineering; master’s degrees in business, education, counseling psychology, pastoral ministry, and theology; and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.s. Distinguished nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S. master’s universities, California’s oldest operating higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.

Media Contact
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Relations | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-554-5121