Give Day sets new fundraising record

The spirit of Give Day was in full swing as the UC Davis community rallied together for the ninth annual celebration, held over Picnic Day weekend. With more than 4,100 donations made both online and in person, this year’s event raised nearly $4.5 million — surpassing the previous dollar amount record of $4.1 million set in 2022.

This year’s theme, “Transform Tomorrow,” highlighted the vital role philanthropy plays in programs across UC Davis and UC Davis Health, enabling them to uphold academic excellence and expand social mobility for generations to come.

Adding to the energy, Development and Alumni Relations staff hit the campus in style, zipping around in cow-themed golf carts — affectionately known as “Fund-Grazers” — spreading smiles, school spirit and a whole lot of fundraising buzz.
 

New platform simplifies giving

This year’s Give Day debuted a brand-new site powered by the GiveCampus platform, designed with user-friendly thumbnail images to make navigation a breeze. The updated platform also introduced Apple Pay and Google Pay, making it quicker and more convenient than ever to support the UC Davis programs and causes that matter most to our community.

The upgraded site also introduced a flexible giving option, allowing donors to set up smaller monthly gifts instead of a single lump sum — perfect for those who prefer to give steadily over time. And with enhanced security features that meet key industry standards, supporters could give with confidence, knowing their information was well protected.

A cornerstone of Picnic Day

“This year’s Give Day theme couldn’t have been more fitting — the event truly is helping UC Davis transform tomorrow,” said Shaun Keister, vice chancellor of Development and Alumni Relations, the division that leads the effort. “After nine years, Give Day has become an integral part of Picnic Day. It’s a powerful opportunity for donors to show their support — not just here in Davis, but throughout Sacramento and well beyond.”

As in previous years, challenge gifts helped boost the power of individual donations. Each challenge sets a goal for a specific number of gifts — regardless of size — to a designated program. Once that goal is reached, a larger donation from a challenge donor is “unlocked,” multiplying the impact.

Give Day 2025 launched with 229 challenge gifts totaling $3.4 million, surpassing the 214 challenge gifts worth $2.9 million from 2024.

“Under Chancellor Gary S. May’s leadership, our campus community is energized and forward-looking,” Keister said. “Challenge gifts ignite that momentum — sparking generosity and showing what’s possible when we unite for a common cause. It speaks volumes about the passion and commitment of our donors, and the confidence they have in where UC Davis is headed.”

A university-wide impact

The reach of this year’s Give Day was extraordinary, supporting everything from UC Davis Athletics, student scholarships and emergency funds to cutting-edge research and immersive learning opportunities. Nearly every college, school and unit at UC Davis and UC Davis Health benefited from this outpouring of generosity.