The seventh annual Pitt Day of Giving next week will have a special challenge for faculty and staff.
If 2,000 faculty and/or staff donate to Pitt on Feb. 21, $5,000 will be awarded to the fund that received the most gifts from these University employees. The bonus money is being provided by Chancellor Patrick Gallagher’s senior staff.
Last year, more than 11,000 people from 50 states and six continents donated to the University. The sixth annual Day of Giving raised $2.96 million for scholarships, research, academic programs, student organizations, athletics and other initiatives.
The annual day of giving has been growing over the past few years. Last year, just over 11,100 donors gave nearly $2.5 million. In 2020, 7,630 donors gave a total of $1.6 million.
Inside Higher Ed reported this week that philanthropic giving to higher education increased by 12.5 percent last fiscal year to a total of $59.5 billion, the highest year-over-year increase since 2000, according to the latest Voluntary Support of Education survey from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. In fiscal 2021, giving rose 7 percent, and the previous year it declined slightly, by less than 1 percent.
The theme for Pitt Day of Giving this year is finding where your piece of the puzzle fits to make Pitt great. Several activities are planned around that idea, including the PDoG Puzzle Hunt. There will be 15 puzzle stops around the Oakland campus where you can scan a QR code. Faculty and staff who find a puzzle piece will get a ticket for exclusive faculty and staff Pitt swag, which they can pick up at the Alumni Hall Connolly Ballroom (while supplies last).
Students also will be entered for prizes and receive a free PDoG t-shirt. Several other events are planned for students.
Everyone can help put together a large Pitt Day of Giving puzzle in the Connolly Ballroom starting at 9 a.m. Also, bring a canned good or non-perishable item to the William Pitt Union Jazz Hall of Fame and receive a free pair of Pitt Day of Giving Socks (while supplies last). All of the canned goods and donated items will support the Pitt Pantry.
Challenges
There will be specific other challenges throughout the day.
G.O.L.D. (Graduates Of The Last Decade) Challenge: If 1,500 recent alumni (Classes 2013-22) make a gift, $5,000 will be released to the fund that received the most gifts from recent alumni. Made possible by Lisa A. Golden, Pitt trustee (A&S '93) (BUS '22G)
Social Ambassador Challenge: Members of the Pitt community have volunteered to do their part and spread the word about PDoG. The area with the most gifts from their Ambassadors’ networks will receive $4,000 additional challenge funds. Ambassadors who get three or more gifts from their network via their personal link will be entered into a drawing to win Pitt Swag.
Campuswide Activities Challenges: Participating organizations can win extra challenge funds if they are chosen by one or more of eight individual campus-wide puzzle hunt winners. Individual winners will each receive $250 to support the participating organization of their choice.
POWER HOUR CHALLENGES
School & College Power Hour, noon-1 p.m.: The school, college or campus with the most individuals making a gift online will win $1,000 additional challenge funds.
Places, Experiences, + More Power Hour, 2-3 p.m.: The area of Pitt with the most individuals making a gift online will win $1,000 additional challenge funds.
Student Organization Power Hour, 7:30-8:30 p.m.: The student organization with the most gifts online will win $1,000 additional challenge funds.
— Susan Jones
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