It’s Official: Mary Wash Giving Day Donations Topped $600,000

The UMW community came together on a sunny Tuesday in March to take part in the third annual Mary Wash Giving Day, a 24-hour online fundraising event to benefit students and programs across the University. The day’s final donation total—after all online and offline gifts were counted—exceeded $600,000.

Mary Wash Giving Day benefits academic programs, the arts, athletics, cultural programming, scholarships, student services and more. Photo by Alex Sakes.

The entire campus community pitches in to make Mary Wash Giving Day, an annual 24-hour online fundraising event, a success. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

The dollars raised on Giving Day are already hard at work benefiting students and strengthening programs across the University. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Donations totaled more than $600,000 on Mary Wash Giving Day last month. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

UMW’s most recent graduates, the Class of 2018, topped the leaderboard for the most Giving Day donors by class year. Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Donors from 45 states and nine countries made more than 4,000 gifts on Mary Wash Giving Day last month. Photo by Alex Sakes.

Donors from 45 states and nine countries, including alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends of the University, made more than 4,000 gifts on Giving Day, surpassing the goal of 3,500. These results broke last year’s Giving Day record and represented a 34% increase in gifts and a 33% increase in dollars raised.

Alumni and students spanning 77 classes, from the Class of 1945 to the Class of 2022, gave back on March 19, paying it forward to the next generation of Mary Washington students. The University’s most recent graduates, the Class of 2018, topped the leaderboard for the most Giving Day donors by class year. In a remarkable display of support for UMW’s mission, 870 donors made their first-ever gift to Mary Washington on Giving Day.

The success of the day, which benefited academic programs, the arts, athletics, cultural programming, scholarships, student services and more, would not have been possible without the contributions of more than 400 Giving Day Ambassadors. These individuals, including alumni and other supporters near and far, volunteered to help spread the word about #MaryWashDay on social media. Through unique referral links shared with friends, classmates and family, Ambassadors inspired more than 950 gifts totaling nearly $66,000.

The dollars raised on Giving Day are already hard at work benefiting students and strengthening programs across the University. Those interested in supporting UMW’s mission – to deliver a topnotch liberal arts and sciences education with dynamic, hands-on learning experiences rich in research and citizenship opportunities, in a diverse, inclusive environment – don’t have to wait until next spring’s fourth annual event. Gifts can be made  here. Hurry, UMW’s fiscal year ends June 30.