Giving Day Overview & Strategy

Overview 

Giving Day is an annual 24-hour fundraising effort to inspire Wildcats in the University of Arizona community to make a gift in support of students and the university. 

The Strategy 

Crowdfunding: A Giving Day crowdfunding page (givingday.arizona.edu) will drive all traffic from email and social media to the site for giving. 

Email: The first email for Giving Day will be sent on 1/14/26 to “save the date” and sign up to be an Ambassador. A series of emails will be sent beginning on 2/11/26 that include three central messages and two unit-specific messages. Wildcats will be asked to spread the word about Giving Day on their social media platforms, make a gift and participate in challenges.  

Social Media: Social media posts (Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn) will start on Jan. 14, 2026, with one-month-out posts and ramp up on Feb. 4, 2026 (1 week out). Arizona Alumni and University of Arizona accounts will serve as the primary social media channels. A social media toolkit will be provided for academic units, non-academic units, leadership boards, student organizations and ambassadors. Use the hashtag #BearDownGiveBack for social media posts to appear on the Giving Day tag board.  A campaign tag in Sprout Social has also been created to track campus wide performance. 

Telephone Outreach Program (TOP): Student callers will make phone calls asking for support of Giving Day. Students will also use person-to-person texting throughout the campaign to send a direct giving link and reply to questions from donors.

Direct Mail: Annual Giving will mail a direct mail appeal to donors and lapsed donors, including assigned prospects, in mid-January to get early gifts returned before February 11. 

Major and Leadership Giving: Development Officers will secure major and leadership level gifts for challenges and lead gifts. 

Student Event: The Bobcats and Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA) will be hosting an event on the mall from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on February 11 to educate students about the impact of philanthropy and participate in donor stewardship activities.