Inaugural 24-hour giving campaign 'One Day. One KU.' raises more than $730K

LAWRENCE — During One Day. One KU., the university’s first 24-hour giving campaign, donors gave 1,896 gifts totaling $734,421, creating opportunities for more Jayhawks in the state, the nation and beyond.

The successful One Day. One KU. campaign on Feb. 20 brought alumni, students and friends together to raise funds for schools and units on every campus at the University of Kansas. The campaign recorded an all-time high number of gifts in one day.

“To all who gave, my sincerest appreciation for your gift,” Chancellor Douglas A. Girod said. “Donors support KU because they believe in the work the university does to improve our state and society. Gifts made during One Day. One KU. will help turn ideas into reality for generations of Jayhawks.”

Matching gifts and challenges of more than $230,000 established before Feb. 20 helped spur donations from every corner of the KU community during the 24-hour window.

 “One Day. One KU. showcased the power of connection to inspire giving,” said Dale Seurferling, president of KU Endowment. “The 24-hour campaign gave donors the chance to see how their gifts contributed to a larger total in real time.”

Challenges ranged from hundreds of dollars to $25,000 matching gifts from the medical community in Wichita — and one challenge unlocked $40,000 with 50 gifts for study abroad scholarships.

Gifts came in all sizes and with layers of meaning. A $220 gift signified the importance of Feb. 20. A walk-in donor gave a total of $8,500 to several programs that were meaningful to her. Donors left heartfelt messages on social media throughout the day about how KU made a difference in their lives.

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.