Pitt Day of Giving exceeds goal for number of donors

Chancellor Patrick Gallagher

By SUSAN JONES

Pitt’s fourth annual Day of Giving on Feb. 25 drew donations from more people than ever before — 7,630 unique donors, exceeding the goal of 7,000 — but raised considerably less money than last year.

This year’s financial total was more than $1.6 million, with gifts from all 50 states and 31 countries. Last year, 6,345 people donated a total of $4.2 million during the 24-hour fundraising effort. Donors can choose which schools, organizations or other units at Pitt to fund.

“As we planned year four, the PDoG team wanted to ensure that we were honoring donors and celebrating giving at every level,” Kris Davitt, senior vice chancellor for Philanthropic & Alumni Engagement, said in a statement. “We determined that the best approach for Pitt was to focus on the importance of every gift and our collective effort, rather than focusing on a dollar total that could be swayed by one or two large gifts or multi-year pledges. 

“Many other universities have adopted a similar approach for giving days, and we are thrilled that the Pitt community responded with such enthusiasm and generosity. This year we saw more alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends unite behind PDoG than in any previous year.”

The final total of faculty and staff donors was 1,806 — exceeding the goal of 1,787, which unlocked an extra $5,000 for the General Scholarship Fund for students at Pitt.

The University also ran competitions in several categories, including a new one for the regional campuses, for number of unique donors and percentage increase in donors from last year. The winners received bonus funds. Pitt also hosted an on-campus celebration at the William Penn Union Assembly Room with doughnuts, pizza, Pitt Day of Giving T-shirts and life-size games from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The winning units are listed below. Find the full list on the Pitt Day of Giving website.

Pitt Pantry workers displaying socks

SCHOOL OR COLLEGE participation (number of unique donors):     

1. Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences: 564 donors | $25,000 bonus

2. School of Pharmacy: 368 | $15,000

3. School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS): 363 | $10,000

SCHOOL & COLLEGE Raise the Bar (percentage improvement in number of donors from last year)

1. Dietrich School: 212 donors in 2019 | 564 in 2020 | 266% increase | $25,000 bonus

2. Pitt Dental Medicine: 73 in 2019 | 182 in 2020 | 249% increase | $15,000

3. Pitt Medicine: 81 in 2019 | 185 in 2020 | 228% increase | $10,000

REGIONAL CAMPUSES participation

1. Pitt–Johnstown: 677 donors | $7,500 bonus

2. Pitt–Greensburg: 501 | $4,500

REGIONAL CAMPUS Raise the Bar   

1. Pitt–Bradford: 62 donors in 2019 |170 in 2020 | 274% increase | $7,500 bonus

2. Pitt–Johnstown: 439 in 2019 | 677 in 2020 | 154% increase | $4,500

PLACES, EXPERIENCES and MORE participation

1. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute: 349 donors | $15,000 bonus

2. Falk Laboratory School: 214 | $10,000

3. Pitt Global: 201 | $5,000

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS participation

1. Pittsburgh Attacks Cancer Together: 416 donors | $5,000 bonus

2. University of Pittsburgh Club Rowing: 355 | $2,500

3. Pitt Men’s Rugby: 234 | $1,000

ATHLETICS participation

1. Cheer, Dance & Mascot Championship Fund: 451 donors | $5,000

2. University Band Fund: 388 | $2,500

3. Football Championship Fund: 104 | $1,000

Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 412-648-4294.

 

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