CASE Insights on Giving Days in partnership with Almabase-Presentation

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The CASE Insights on Giving Days report (December 2025), produced by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in partnership with Almabase and featuring speakers from various universities, examines trends, strategies, and impacts of giving days in educational philanthropy. The research analyzed global philanthropic revenue and donor trends, surveying 152 CASE members and incorporating interviews by Dr. Liz Rothenberg.<br /><br />Key findings highlight giving days as crucial for increasing donor participation and pipeline growth across educational institutions. Despite a decline in overall donor counts and volunteerism in the US and internationally, giving days help engage small-dollar donors effectively, with 26% of institutions raising 11–25% of their annual giving goals during these events. March and April are the most common months for hosting giving days.<br /><br />Emerging best practices include designing giving day strategies to engage donors at all levels, hosting kickoff events to build campus partner confidence, activating volunteers strategically, rallying community support around a focused cause, and integrating non-monetary asks to broaden participation. Effective use of student-generated content, digital toolkits for campus ambassadors, engaging local communities, and recognizing contributors help build momentum and foster a culture of generosity.<br /><br />The Oregon State University Foundation’s “Dam Proud Day” exemplifies a successful giving day, raising millions from thousands of small gifts annually, while initiatives like the “Dammys Awards” celebrate employee engagement and sustain philanthropic traditions.<br /><br />Looking ahead, most institutions plan to maintain or increase investment in giving days with a focus on personalization (thank-you videos, donor journeys), enhanced volunteer infrastructure, more frequent live updates, and deeper student involvement through interactive and community-driven experiences.<br /><br />This research provides data-driven guidance to advance philanthropy through inclusive, strategic giving days, emphasizing the importance of broad participation to counter declining civic engagement and strengthen educational support.

Keywords

Giving Days

Educational Philanthropy

Donor Participation

CASE Insights

Philanthropic Revenue

Volunteer Engagement

Fundraising Strategies

Small-Dollar Donors

Campus Fundraising

Personalization in Giving