CSUB raises $175,000 for `Runners on Giving Day

Virtual fundraising marathon breaks donor participation records

By California State University, Bakersfield

April 29^th, 2024

More people than ever before donated to support students during California State University, Bakersfield’s virtual Giving Day fundraiser.

CSUB’s Raising for `Runners Giving Day, which ran from noon on April 2 to noon on April 3, brought in $175,000 from more than 1,000 gifts, a new record. The university’s previous three Giving Day events combined raised more than $400,000 from nearly 1,700 gifts.

This year’s Giving Day brought in 891 donors, shattering the university’s previous record of 535 donors in 2021. More than 600 were first-time donors.

Gifts came in from over a dozen states across the nation as well as a few from other countries, including Canada and Brazil.

“We cannot thank our `Runner community enough for their partnership in philanthropy on our Raising for `Runners Giving Day!” said Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship Eric Weis. “Because of your generosity and commitment to our students and programs, we shattered our participation record. Thank you for creating an atmosphere where current and future `Runners can make their mark on our campus.”

This is the first year that Giving Day has been held in the spring. The past three events were held in the fall.

Raising for `Runners Giving Day featured several challenges that engaged faculty, staff, alumni, students and the community. The President’s Associates Challenge unlocked $20,000 for the Student Research Scholars program from the faculty member and alumna Dr. Dahna Stowe when CSUB received the 200th gift to any fund.

The fundraiser encouraged the CSUB community to give to areas of the university they are most passionate about. The Volleyball Excellence Fund and Wrestling Excellence Fund received the most donations from alumni. The women’s golf team also won the Rowdy Challenge.

“We are very excited about the results of this year’s Giving Day. The outpouring of support for CSUB Athletics is testament to the enthusiasm that our community has for our student-athletes,” said Athletics Director Kyle Conder. “It is a great time to be a `Runner, and the contributions from giving day will help us realize our vision of pursuing championships and graduating leaders.”

The School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering received the most donations from faculty and staff, but the School of Arts and Humanities won the Battle of the Schools Challenge.

Alumni from the classes of 2010 through 2019 won the Rowdy Through the Eras Challenge and will be recognized at the next Alumni Hall of Fame and Party in the Park events.

CSUB also provided an estate-planning seminar as part of Giving Day for people wanting to learn about the importance of having a will or a trust. Visit the CSUB website to learn more about how to make a planned gift.

Money raised from Giving Day will be applied to CSUB’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, which was announced in October 2021 and concludes on June 30.