Make a Difference for Coworkers, Students and Communities During Giving Tuesday

With the recent launch of its Giving Tuesday campaign, Kent State University has again transformed a one-day fundraising initiative into a month-long giving campaign to support student scholarships, expanded programs, study away initiatives and modern facilities.

Today, Kent State University President Todd Diacon made an announcement on behalf of the Kent State University Foundation. On Dec. 3, the global Giving Tuesday, the KSU Foundation has pledged $100,000 to match gifts one-to-one up to $1,000 each, and these matching dollars can apply to any foundation fund in the university network.

Supporting Your Colleagues

New to the campaign this year, the Faculty Staff Emergency Fund allows employees at Kent State University to make a difference for their coworkers. This fund was established by a Kent State University staff member when she saw the need for a safety net for fellow colleagues who were experiencing events that put unexpected strain on their lives.

Sometimes a colleague is going through an experience and struggling in silence. Perhaps they are recovering from a house fire, fighting an illness or going through a difficult divorce. Whatever the hardship, Kent State University employees can support each other by making a gift to this fund.

“As an alumna and now an employee, this fund really stands out,” said Danielle Hupp, senior associate director, Special Giving Initiatives. “Most of our featured funds focus on helping students, improving facilities or supporting research – all of which are critically important to our mission as a university. But the people who work here are what make our mission come to life, and sometimes there is a need to extend that same kind of support to the person working right next to you. As President Diacon said in his inauguration speech, Flashes help other Flashes.”

Maximizing Your Impact

The goal of Giving Tuesday is to empower all donors to give to the fund that matters most to them and to provide incentives to help maximize the impact of those gifts. There are more than 40 featured giving options during this year’s campaign, and each one has a matching gift available, so donors can double the impact that their gift makes. Plus, from now until midnight on Dec. 2, any featured fund that brings in 15 unique donors of $25 or more will receive an additional $500 participation boost from the KSU Foundation.

Then, on the official global Giving Tues., Dec. 3, the one-to-one match from the KSU Foundation begins. Although $100,000 is set aside to match gifts to any foundation fund, it goes quickly. Donors are encouraged to make their gifts as early as possible before that match money is gone.

Members of the Kent State University Board of Trustees and Foundation Board have also pledged their private support to inspire others to give. These dollars will be used for new completion incentives, providing $400 as a reward for funds that met their stated goal and closing the gap for funds that are within $300 of their fundraising goal when the campaign ends at 11:59 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 3.

Kent State’s Giving Tuesday celebration runs through 11:59 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 3. Information on all the Giving Tuesday initiatives can be found at www.kent.edu/givingtuesday.

POSTED: Monday, November 25, 2019 08:33 AM
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2022 09:36 AM