By Jeff Wilson
CARBONDALE – The SIU Day of Giving is moving to the fall. The annual fundraising event will be Wednesday, Sept. 18.
The first eight SIU Days of Giving were during the spring semester, but the excitement around campus during the fall semester made the move the logical choice. Each year, the SIU community comes together for a 24-hour, online Day of Giving. Supporters visit siuday.siu.edu and make a gift to any college, unit, program, or initiative. Click here today to make your gift early.
“SIU is a special place in the fall. Students have returned, and campus is alive with activity,” said Matt Kupec, vice chancellor for development and alumni relations and CEO of the SIU Foundation. “We want the SIU Day of Giving to be part of the palpable excitement that already exists during the fall semester. We’re confident our alumni, faculty, staff, and students will embrace the date change.”
Since its inception in 2017, donors have given about $17 million during the SIU Day of Giving, including $3.1 million from more than 2,600 donors this February. The Day of Giving is part of the Imagine SIU 2030 fundraising campaign, which has set a $500 million goal by July 2028. It is the fifth largest such campaign in Illinois history.
To increase the impact of their gifts, donors can check if their employer matches charitable donations at siuf.org/matching. Gifts can be made any time between now and Wednesday, Sept. 18, at siuday.siu.edu and count toward the Day of Giving.
“Every Day of Giving we emphasize the impact of every gift, no matter the size, and that will be especially true on Wednesday, Sept. 18,” Kupec said. “The funds raised during the Day of Giving provide students and faculty with vital financial support. No matter the date, Saluki spirit will shine.”
As in previous years, there will be an SIU Day of Giving livestream broadcast on the SIU Alumni Association’s Facebook page. Hosted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the WSIU-TV studio, the broadcast will feature interviews with Chancellor Austin Lane, campus leaders, students, faculty, and others.
Viewers will learn about the exciting things happening each day at SIU and how they can best support their favorite area of campus. Comments on the livestream will be featured on the screen.
Other than making a gift and watching the broadcast, there are other ways for alumni and donors to support the Day of Giving.
Simply by using #SIUDay on social media and sharing posts from the SIU Foundation and other units on campus is a great way to show support. Supporters can also sign up to become and SIU Day of Giving Advocate at siuday.siu.edu. Advocates get special Day of Giving updates and can share their own Day of Giving messages with others.