Annual giving day breaks records

Another Ducks Give has come and gone and this year's event is the most successful campaign for the UO – and the UO Alumni Association (UOAA) as well. 

The UOAA raised a record number of $122,815 from 82 gifts. 

The alumni association received one challenge gift from UOAA board member, Chip Messenger BS ‘97 (business administration) in the amount of $100,000. This was released when 50 individuals donated to the UOAA’s various academic and internship scholarships. Messenger’s gift went to support the Desert Ducks Scholarship Fund. 

Additionally, the UOAA provided matching funds up to regional chapters who raised new funds up to $3,000. 

“Chip’s generous gift will help us support UO students for generations to come,” said Raphe Beck, executive director of the Alumni Association. “What a wonderful way of multiplying the donations we received from Ducks around the world.” 

Annual Philanthropy reports that the university set a record for "day of" revenue, bringing in more than $600,000 well ahead of our previous record of about $450,000. 

That, combined with the nearly $1.7 million in challenge gift revenue secured ahead of time, the campaign brought in nearly $2.3 million in total revenue. 

Rob Dow, director of Annual Philanthropy says that this year’s giving was a significant improvement over the UO’s previous giving day record of just under $1.7 million. 

“Despite having secured more challenge gifts than any previous year, for the first time ever, each gift-based challenge reached or exceeded its goal,” Dow says. “We also had several dollar-match challenges, and many of them hit their maximum amount. We surpassed our overall goal of 1,876 gifts, unlocking the Cornog Family gift for Innovation for $500,000 with about an hour to spare.” Learn more about UOAA Scholarships.

-By UO Alumni Association Communications