Fresno State's 9th Annual Day of Giving Returns March 18 for 24-Hour Fundraiser

Fresno State's ninth annual Day of Giving is underway today, Wednesday, March 18, with donations accepted from midnight through 11:59 p.m. in a 24-hour digital fundraising push to support scholarships, academic programs, student research, and internship opportunities across the university.

The campaign, which the university describes as its "biggest day of generosity," invites alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and philanthropic partners to give to the college, school, or program that matters most to them. Gifts can be directed toward student research, scholarships, internship programs, and innovative learning environments, among other areas. The Day of Giving website is live and tracking contributions in real time through a live leaderboard that updates throughout the day.

The event falls during "I Heart Fresno State Week," a campuswide celebration tied to the university's broader "Lead With Pride" fundraising campaign. "Day of Giving reminds us of the incredible impact we can make when we come together as a community," the university said in messaging published by University Marketing and Communications. "Every gift — large or small — helps champion programs that are meaningful to our philanthropic partners and empower our talented students. Through Day of Giving, we move our mission of education, one that powers the economy of our Valley and elevates the quality of life of our neighborhoods."

Leticia Reyna Cano, assistant vice president of Advancement Operations and Annual Giving, called on the entire Bulldog community to participate, noting that faculty and staff can contribute by making a gift, sharing the campaign with personal networks, and posting on social media using the hashtag #FresnoStateDOG. The university has also made available digital assets including Zoom backgrounds and phone and watch wallpapers for supporters to use before and during the campaign.

Students have an additional incentive to engage: the first-ever Victor E. Bulldog Plushie Scavenger Hunt, which challenges participants to find plushies hidden around campus while directing giving to the area most meaningful to them.

Supporters who want to extend their reach can sign up as a DOG Ambassador through the Day of Giving website, taking on the role of encouraging friends and family to give in exchange for exclusive Fresno State swag. The site's leaderboard also tracks philanthropic partners by geography, with a goal of helping the "Red Wave take over the map" across the United States and internationally.

The Day of Giving platform is powered by ScaleFunder. Questions can be directed to supportfresnostate@mail.fresnostate.edu, and more information on the Lead With Pride movement is available at leadwithpride.fresnostate.edu.