Give N Day Brought in Donors from Across 7 Countries and 40 States

Nicholls State University recently marked a major milestone with its 2025 Give N Day, setting a new record for the annual fundraising event. Now in its eighth year, Give-N-Day generated over $270,000 in just 24 hours, making it the most successful one to date, as per this news release from the school. A total of 1,750 donors contributed through 2,309 separate gifts, pushing the total raised across all eight years to over $1.4 million.

Organized by the Nicholls Foundation, Give-N-Day serves as a campus-wide initiative to raise funds for university programs, departments, athletics, and student organizations. This year, 117 different groups benefited from at least one donation. In fact, many donors opted to support multiple organizations—16% gave to more than one cause. Contributions poured in not only from across the United States (40 states in total), but also from donors representing seven countries, emphasizing the broad support for Nicholls’ mission and community.

Jeremy Becker, Executive Director of the Nicholls Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about the outcome. He credited the remarkable results to the coordinated effort across campus. According to Becker, the success was a reflection of widespread involvement—from the participating groups who strategized and contacted supporters, to the university’s marketing team who helped spread the word far and wide.

On the Give N Day fundraising leaderboard, Colonel Athletic Association Soccer stood out as the highest earner, collecting an impressive $38,991. St. Thomas Aquinas Colonel Catholics followed with $15,950 in donations, whileColonel Athletic Association Track & Field/Cross Country brought in $15,520. Scholarships at Nicholls State Universityreceived $13,740, and the Accounting Program was close behind with $12,170. The Bridge to Independence program garnered $11,960 in support, while Colonel ESports raised $11,115. Colonel Athletic Association Beach Volleyball also had a strong showing with $10,226 raised.

In terms of the number of individual gifts, Colonel Soccer once again led the pack with a total of 300 donations. The Xi Theta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. secured 101 donors, making it the second-most supported organization by individual count. Colonel Athletic Association Indoor Volleyball followed with 98 donors, and Colonel Athletic Association Beach Volleyball wasn’t far behind with 89. Colonel ESports received 79 donations, Bridge to Independence had 73, Sigma Alpha Epsilon gathered support from 67 individuals, and the CROWN organization (Cultivating Respect, Opportunity, and Wellness through Networking) earned the support of 54 donors.

Launched in 2018, Give N Day was designed to open new fundraising opportunities for campus-based organizations that previously lacked the infrastructure to conduct their own campaigns. Since its inception, the event has allowed donors to designate funds directly to the group or program of their choosing, ensuring transparency and targeted support. Every dollar raised goes straight to the designated recipient with no administrative fees deducted, a feature that has helped boost donor confidence and participation year after year.

The Nicholls Foundation, which organizes the event, is an independent nonprofit entity classified as a 501(c)(3) organization. Its mission is to support Nicholls State University by securing financial gifts and grants, managing those resources responsibly, and enhancing the institution through scholarships, endowed faculty positions, and other academic advancements.

Given N Day reflects not only the generosity of Nicholls supporters but also the deep connection between the university and its extended community. From athletics to academics to student life, the funding generated will help ensure that these programs continue to grow, thrive, and meet student needs for years to come.

Events like Give-N-Day highlight a broader trend in higher education: participatory philanthropy. Rather than relying solely on large institutional donors, schools like Nicholls are creating avenues for grassroots support, empowering alumni, students, families, and faculty to give directly to the causes they care about most. This approach encourages a sense of ownership and community investment, both of which are vital for sustaining vibrant and responsive educational environments.

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Nicholls Foundation Give-N-Day 2024: A Journey of Generosity

The philanthropic efforts of the Nicholls Foundation  have once again garnered remarkable success, as evidenced by the remarkable outcome of its seventh Give-N-Day event in 2024. The event, which serves as a pivotal fundraising platform for the University’s departments and student organizations, has managed to amass a staggering sum of over $1.2 million in contributions, as per this news release from Nicholls State University.

In the latest installment of the Nicholls Foundation led Give-N-Day, the generosity of over 1,300 donors culminated in a total of 1,850 donations, collectively amounting to over $205,000. These funds hold the promise of significant impact, with 128 Nicholls organizations set to benefit, each assured of receiving at least one donation. What’s particularly heartening is the diverse array of contributors; not only did over 25% of donors identify themselves as Nicholls alumni, but over 38% of the gifts hailed from alumni, and more than 18% from Nicholls faculty or staff members. The spirit of generosity transcended geographical boundaries, with donations pouring in from 36 states and 11 countries. Moreover, a noteworthy 18% of donors opted to support multiple organizations, reflecting a commendable commitment to the University’s multifaceted endeavors.

Expressing profound gratitude for this overwhelming display of support, Jeremy Becker, Executive Director of the Nicholls Foundation, conveyed, “The entire Nicholls family is extremely grateful for the support from the Nicholls Community. More and more campus organizations are able to offer more experiences and opportunities for students because of the funds raised from this and all Give-N-Day events.”

The tangible impact of these contributions is underscored by the achievements of various programs that distinguished themselves on the Give-N-Day leaderboard. Topping the charts in terms of funds raised was the Bridge to Independence initiative, which garnered an impressive $19,170. Noteworthy mentions include the Colonel ESports program with $17,055, the Colonel Athletic Association Track & Field/Cross Country with $9,670, and the Accounting Program with $9,196, among others. Equally commendable was the remarkable show of support in terms of individual donations, with Bridge to Independence securing the highest number of contributions at 107.

However, behind these numbers lies a profound narrative of empowerment and inclusivity, epitomized by the Bridge to Independence program. At Nicholls State University, this pioneering initiative provides students with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder the opportunity to immerse themselves in the college experience while honing essential leadership and social skills crucial for future employment and independent living. Positioned within the nurturing environment of Nicholls, recognized for its familial atmosphere and esteemed for being the safest campus in the UL system, the Bridge to Independence program stands as a beacon of inclusivity and support.

Certified by the U.S. Department of Education and heralded as Louisiana’s inaugural program of its kind, Bridge to Independence offers a comprehensive suite of support services, enabling eligible students to engage in regular classes, partake in campus activities, and even join organizations. Central to its success are the peer mentors, meticulously trained within the Nicholls College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, who provide invaluable assistance with coursework and foster social integration. In essence, Give-N-Day not only serves as a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Nicholls community but also embodies the transformative power of collective generosity in advancing educational opportunities and fostering inclusivity.

In conclusion, the resounding success of Give-N-Day 2024 not only showcases the remarkable generosity within the Nicholls community but also underscores the profound impact of collective philanthropy in advancing educational opportunities and fostering inclusivity. As we reflect on the achievements of this event, let us continue to celebrate the spirit of giving that propels us forward, united in our shared commitment to empowering education and enriching lives.

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Sixth Give-N-Day helps Nicholls Foundation Reach the 1 Million Dollar Mark

The Nicholls Foundation’s sixth Give-N-Day has reportedly raised over $1 million for the University’s departments and student organizations, according to this new release from Nicholls State University. After it was all said and done, Nicholls’ 2023 Give-N-Day received the most donors, donations, and funds raised ever in the six years of the event.

Jeremy Becker, Nicholls Foundation Executive, said, “Give-N-Day is an exciting and rewarding event for the foundation and especially the university. It is special to see the University come together with this effort and to have the Nicholls community support so many specific areas on campus. The Give-N-Day team is already planning to make this an even more impactful event in the future.”

The sixth Give-N-Day, in total, raised over $265,000 with 1,587 donors and 2,188 donations. These donations will benefit 130 Nicholls organizations, all of which will receive at least one gift, which is the most ever. Out of the donors, over 25% identified as being Nicholls alumni, and 17% of all donors gave to more than one organization with gifts coming from 39 states and 11 countries, which also broke a record for the monumental event.

Give-N-Day was initially organized in 2018 as a way for the student organizations, academic programs, and athletics of Nicholls State University to raise money in a way that they couldn’t before. Give-N-Day was created as an opportunity for donors to directly benefit a specific organization, department, or athletic team of their choosing. Donations could be listed as little as $10 or as much as the donor wishes to give to one organization or to be spread across as many organizations as possible. Every cent of the donation goes directly to the donor’s organization(s) of choice.

This year, for the sixth 2023 Give-N-Day, Maritime Management received the largest amount of donations by raising $44,615. Other programs that received remarkable financial support were: CROWN with $8,770, Colonel Athletic Association Track & Field/Cross Country with $9,886, Accounting Program with $13,795, Colonel ESports with $14,005, Bridge to Independence with $17,440, and Colonel Athletic Association Soccer with $36,026.

In terms of which programs, organizations, or departments had received the most individual donations, Colonel Athletic Association Soccer reportedly received the most with 305 individual donations total. Other programs that had received a significant number of individual donations were: Colonel Athletic Association Track & Field/Cross Countrywith 56, Accounting Program with 59, Bridge to Independence with 60, Colonel Esports with 64, CROWN with 76, and Sigma Sigma Sigma with 105.

The President of the Nicholls Foundation, Chris H. Riviere says the following in his message to donors, “when making a contribution to Nicholls, the first thing that often comes to mind for many people is scholarships.  For those who attended college, we all remember our own financial struggles and we can understand the importance of ensuring that today’s students can afford to earn degrees, live in residence halls, become active in campus organizations or even travel abroad.  And now, with the yearly uncertainty surrounding TOPS and higher education funding, the need for scholarship dollars has grown even more important. While scholarships are certainly the bread and butter of the Nicholls Foundation, they are far from the only option to make a lasting impact on the lives of current and future Colonels. […]

Additionally, the Nicholls Foundation currently funds 63 faculty professorships along with two endowed chairs.  By providing the financial resources for Nicholls to recruit and retain its best faculty and fund faculty research and professional development opportunities, the Foundation’s supporters are helping to improve the academic experience for hundreds, if not thousands, of students.”

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