Washington State University’s annual celebration of philanthropy and donor impact, #CougsGive, takes place next Wednesday, April 13.
The day-long event brings the entire Cougar community together via live counting, social media engagement, and peer advocacy to promote charitable giving through the WSU Foundation.
“#CougsGive has grown to become a significant philanthropic event for WSU each spring, with nearly $2 million donated since its inception in 2015,” said Mike Connell, vice president of advancement and CEO of the WSU Foundation. “This annual day of giving has allowed us to welcome new donors to WSU, expand our social media footprint, and leverage new technologies, all while recognizing and celebrating the tremendous impact our alumni and friends create for faculty, staff, and students systemwide.”
All members of the WSU community are encouraged to visit cougsgive.wsu.edu on April 13 to learn about this year’s featured areas of support and make gifts to the colleges, departments, and programs that matter to them. Participants can also sign up as a #CougsGive Ambassador and share about the impact of philanthropy.
“Hundreds of donors and Ambassadors come together each and every #CougsGive to create buzz and excitement that is far-reaching and inspiring,” said Jess Billings, senior director of development, Annual Giving. “Whether it’s the promise to jump in the cold spring waters of the Columbia River when a challenge is unlocked, or the vulnerable testimony shared on Twitter about inspiration for giving, this day is a platform for Cougs everywhere to engage, be creative, be personal, and inspire others to join the celebration.”
The #CougsGive website features 28 areas with more than 110 unique fund options. If donors wish to give to a fund area not listed on the campaign website, they can visit give.wsu.edu on April 13 to make their gift. Those gifts will still count in the overall #CougsGive totals, but will not be eligible for the active matches or challenges during the campaign.
Several WSU donors have additionally offered special dollar-for-dollar matching gifts and unlockable challenge gifts to help promote the excitement of the day and encourage donors to give to new funding areas. More of these special gift opportunities will be added to the #CougsGive Challenges page in the days leading up to the campaign.
The first #CougsGive event celebrated WSU’s 125th birthday in 2015. That year, donors gave more than $314,000 to WSU campuses, colleges, and programs. Last year in 2021, the giving total increased to a record $704,962. Days of giving have become popular events at universities around the country for their creative online engagement and “real-time” giving experience.
