Giving Day Student Giving

One day, many Mustangs. One community, many reasons.

What is SMU Giving Day?

It’s your chance to make a difference! On March 11, join the Mustang stampede for SMU Giving Day – a high-energy, 24-hour campaign to rally support for the causes, projects and organizations you care about most at SMU. 

This is your moment to directly impact the initiatives that make the SMU experience extraordinary. Every dollar raised helps fuel incredible opportunities for the year ahead – and it starts with you. More than a fundraiser, SMU Giving Day is a fun way to show your Mustang pride and champion the programs and people that make SMU shine. 

 

 

Does your favorite group need support?
Make sure it is part of SMU Giving Day! 

Why should I participate?

Whether you’re supporting the organizations that define your SMU experience or championing a new cause, your gift drives meaningful change – you can even submit your own fund for consideration.

SMU Giving Day is an opportunity to join the herd of Mustangs worldwide and maximize your gift through Mustang Matchers – generous donors who have pledged additional funds to amplify your support. Plus, you can take part in challenges and competitions, giving your organization the chance to earn extra funds while showcasing your amazing work.

Ways to get involved

Is your organization changing the world? Are you working on a project that could benefit from additional funds? Leverage Giving Day by taking advantage of this unique opportunity to obtain additional funding for your organization. The deadline to submit a funding proposal is February 14. Learn more about submitting your funding proposal.

Champions are the secret weapon to securing more support for an organization’s causes. They serve as advocates, encouraging their network to donate to the cause or causes that matter most to them. Participating champions are eligible to win exciting prizes and take part in exclusive challenges and competitions throughout the day. Sample social media posts, phone scripts, example email and text messages, and customizable graphics make spreading the word about SMU’s Giving Day causes easy and fun! Sign up to become a champion.

Show your Mustang pride by paying it forward with a gift. It’s not about how big the gift is; it’s about the power of the collective. The most common gifts on Giving Day, and they accounted for more than half of the number of gifts received that day. Pony Up and make a gift. Giving Day 2024 results showed that 80% of individual gifts were below $100 and the most common gift amount was $50.

Follow @SMUDallas and @SMUAlumniNetwork on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on Giving Day festivities, challenges and more! We’d love to see your Giving Day posts – be sure to tag us and use #SMUOneDay when sharing the post.

Peruna Power Up Challenge

What is the Peruna Power Up Challenge?

The Peruna Power Up Challenge gives student organizations an opportunity to unlock up to $75K in matching funds for their featured cause on SMU Giving Day. Participating organizations will compete against each other between 11 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 during a Giving Day extravaganza hosted on Dallas Hall Lawn. Student organizations will table and encourage their fellow classmates to drop by the Peruna Power Up Challenge tent to cast a vote for their favorite cause – the organization with the most votes wins additional prizes.

Event Details

Peruna Power Up Challenge for SMU Giving Day
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dallas Hall Lawn

Drop by Dallas Hall Lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to cast your vote for your favorite student organizations. Festivities will include an appearance by Peruna, swag items, food, raffle prizes and a live DJ.

Who is competing?

More than 50 organizations with featured causes for Giving Day will participate. Participating organizations are divided into five categories by size.

Greek organizations: 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Student organizations: 12:45-2 p.m.

What are organizations competing for? 

The top three organizations to secure the most votes will receive additional matching funds for their organization in the following amounts:

First place: $3,000
Second place: $2,000
Third place: $1,000

All participating organizations will earn $200 for entering the Peruna Power Up Challenge. 

  

Voting 101: How do I earn votes?

Drop by the Peruna Power Up Challenge tent on Dallas Hall Lawn between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 and complete one or more of the following activities:

Action Voting Tokens Earned
Make a gift to any featured SMU Giving Day fund 25
Sign five cards thanking alumni donors 10
Post a pic on social media with #SMUOneDay and tag @SMUDallas and @SMUAlumniNetwork 5


Voting tokens will be distributed in increments of five so participants can designate votes to more than one organization if they choose.

Last year by the numbers

Some of the Top Performers

Questions? Contact Amy Felknor at afelknor@smu.edu or 214-768-1973.