Marist University Hosts Third Annual Day of Giving

Students celebrating the Day of Giving in the Dyson Atrium on March 25. Photo Credit: Nelson Echeverria/Marist University

On March 25, Marist University hosted its third annual Day of Giving, a 24-hour fundraising effort to support the university’s growth. In just 24 hours, Marist collected over $1.5 million from 3,778 donors, reaching approximately 94% of its 4,000 donor goal. 

Designed as an online campaign, the Day of Giving invites the entire Marist community – students, alumni, families and faculty alike to come together and demonstrate their commitment to the University and its growing opportunities.

While the final totals were important, the Day of Giving team emphasizes that participation remains the primary measure of success.

“Success to us [...] is getting people to participate. We, of course, want to hit that 4,000 donor goal and raise over a million dollars for our students, but it's really [about] getting people to talk about it and to participate,” explained Associate Director of Annual Giving, Rita Rogan ‘23 M.

This philosophy reflects the broader strategy for engaging across the Marist network. Since its launch, the campaign has grown significantly, surpassing the initial 1,000 donor goal set for the first year and nearly reaching 4,000 donors this year.

Rogan emphasized the importance of peer-to-peer fundraising, with students, alumni, and faculty able to share personalized links to encourage giving within their networks.

“There's no one better to tell the Marist story than the students who are living it or than our faculty, who are working with our students,” Rogan emphasized when explaining the roles of student organizations and campus departments in this year's event.

Another key driver of participation in the event was the use of matching gifts and unlock challenges. One of the most impactful incentives came from the Board of Trustees, who pledged $200,000 to the campaign once the university reached 2,000 donors. 

“If I give a $5 gift, that's going to get us one donor closer to getting $200,000,” Rogan explained. “The collective impact really makes a difference.”

Emails throughout the day helped drive donations through creating a sense of urgency, underscoring the effectiveness of real-time engagement. While social media helped increase visibility and amplify the campaign's messaging.

Planning for the Day of Giving begins months in advance, typically in the early fall, and requires collaboration across multiple departments, including Advancement, Marketing and Communications and Athletics.

They typically have “[...] one big strategy session of figuring out how to use all of our time and resources accordingly,” Rogan explained.

Perhaps one of the campaign’s most defining features has been donors’ choice, allowing contributions to be allocated to the donor’s designation – whether that's academic programs, athletics or other student services. 

A significant portion of Day of Giving contributions went directly to Marist Athletics, supporting team budgets and enhancing the day-to-day experience of student athletes. 

Director of Development for Marist Athletics, Josie Skelley, explained that the head coaches have final agency over how the funds are spent, but emphasized that they are typically spent on nutrition and recovery, training and player development tools and travel.

“These donations allow our student-athletes to compete and train safely, while also creating a first-class experience that instills and fosters a sense of pride in Marist Athletics,” Skelley said. 

For many students, the impact of giving has become deeply personal, especially as they prepare for graduation next month.

Megan Doshi ‘26 said supporting Marist was “an absolute no-brainer.”

“As my chapter as an undergrad comes to a close, we recognize how much the Red Fox community has shaped our education while creating endless opportunities,” Doshi said. ”And, as a soon-to-be alum this day celebrates a meaningful way to spread philanthropy and pay it forward; it is an investment to support the culture, our fellow red foxes, first-of-its-kind initiatives, all to keep the momentum going!”