Fuel discovery and growth this Giving Day
On Giving Day—March 12!—you can make a difference for the Cornell causes you care about most, and help new ideas take root.
Join the funThank you for stepping up as a Cornell Giving Day Champion! Your commitment to Cornell and willingness to inspire others makes you a true leader in the Big Red community. This page will equip you with everything you need to make a meaningful impact on March 12, 2026.
Know the basics
What is Cornell Giving Day?
On Cornell Giving Day, alumni, parents, friends, and Big Red fans all over the world come together to make a difference for Cornell and for the world. All gifts made on the second Thursday in March, between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. EDT, will count toward Cornell Giving Day. It’s 24 hours of Cornell pride, community, and collective impact that strengthens our university for generations to come.
What is a Champion?
Giving Day Champions are passionate Cornell alumni, students, and friends who want to amplify their love for Cornell and inspire others to make a meaningful impact on the university community. As a Champion, you’re not just a donor—you’re a leader, an advocate, and a catalyst for positive change at Cornell.
Your Role & Impact as a Champion
As a Champion, you have the unique opportunity to:
- Multiply your impact by inspiring others to join you in supporting causes that matter to them, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond what you could accomplish alone
- You lead by example by demonstrating the importance of giving back and inspire others to become leaders too
How to become a Giving Day Champion?
Using the Giving Day website’s peer-to-peer fundraising tool, you can help Cornell raise more, engage more, and do more!
Three Easy Steps to be a Champion
- CHAMPION a cause: Make your gift to the Cornell area you’re most passionate about
- INSPIRE your network: Use your personal story and giving link to motivate at least 5 friends to join the movement
- AMPLIFY the impact: Share your Cornell story on social media with #CornellGivingDay to spark even more giving
How to make your gift:
- Visit givingday.cornell.edu
- Search for and select your chosen cause
- Make your gift (any amount – it’s about participation, not size)
- Save your confirmation for sharing your story later
Timeline and key dates
- March 9, 2026: Registration deadline for Champions
- March 12, 2026: Cornell Giving Day (12:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. EDT)
What causes to support?
- Browse causes
See funds associated with causes you care about. - Browse funds to fundraise for
Fund Categories Overview
- Annual funds
- Scholarships and student aid
- Student programs and organizations
Matching Your Passion to Impact
How to share?
How to share your giving link effectively
- Get your link:
- After signing up as a Champion, you’ll receive your personalized giving link
- This link tracks gifts made through your efforts
- Share this exact link in all your outreach
- Best practices for sharing:
- Include context: Always explain why you’re sharing it
- Make it personal: Tell your story, don’t just post a link
- Be direct: “I’m hoping you’ll join me in making a gift”
- Make it easy: Clickable links, clear instructions
- Follow up: Don’t just post once and forget
AMPLIFY the Impact – Share on social media
Your platforms: Use whatever social media you’re comfortable with
- Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok
- Don’t have social media? Use email, text messages, or phone calls instead
What to share:
- Your personal Cornell story: Why Cornell matters to you
- Your chosen cause: Why you selected this specific area to support
- The impact: How gifts make a difference (use examples from Section 2)
- Your giving link: Make it easy for people to give and share
- Always include: #CornellGivingDay
INSPIRE Your Network – Recruit at Least 5 Friends
Your goal: Motivate at least 5 people to make gifts through your efforts
