2017 Day of Giving Finishes with Record-Breaking Results

Alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends from around the world came together virtually on Feb. 7 to make Duquesne University’s 2017 Day of Giving a huge success.

A total of 1,217 gifts were received that day—setting a new one-day record for the campaign—with $165,574 total dollars raised to help Duquesne students. Last year’s inaugural Day of Giving generated 1,023 gifts, which totaled $109,122 donations.

“It was incredible to see donations from across campus and across the world come in at a rapid pace throughout the entire Duquesne Day of Giving. What a wonderful reminder about how the University has made such an impact on our alumni and friends that they want to give back,” said Dave Jakielo, assistant director of annual giving. “It puts in perspective how much Duquesne means to so many people.”

Donations came from 38 states and as far as Shanghai, China, and will support 128 schools, organizations and sports teams. Challenge gifts, designed to inspire people to donate, were a new part of this year’s initiative. In addition, $38,000 in challenge gifts were unlocked.

“It was really impressive that we unlocked every Challenge gift. They were the biggest difference-maker in the day being a success. Those challenges certainly motivated our alumni and friends to give back to those areas of campus so that the Challenge gifts would be unlocked,” Jakielo said. “One of the donors even added an extra $500 to his challenge donation to congratulate us on a successful campaign.”