KSU Giving Day 2026

We did it!

Because of YOU, Kennesaw State University Giving Day was nothing short of incredible. From early giving to the final “late to class” push, the energy, generosity, and pride for our students showed up in every single way.

We’ve officially surpassed our donor goal (!!!), and while final dollars are still being tabulated, one thing is already clear: this community shows up BIG for our students. Every gift, every share, every conversation made an impact—and we are so grateful.

Now… let’s talk Advocate Challenge 👀 Our top advocates truly went above and beyond, rallying their networks and driving donor participation across campus. The top three advocates will each receive $1,000, $500, and $250 receptively for the KSU Foundation accounts

🏆 Top Advocate Leaderboard 

🥇 Jessica Aguirre - 141 gifts 

🥈 Leah Weaver- 126 gifts 

🥉 Lei Li- 88 gifts 

And now… the moment we’ve all been waiting for 

🏀 Athletics Donor Challenge Winner 🥇 

Football 

With the most donors by the 5:00 PM deadline, they’ve secured an additional $1,500 to support their program. What an incredible showing of support! Way to rally your fans and make it happen.

To everyone who gave, shared, volunteered, and competed, thank you for bringing the energy and making this Giving Day unforgettable!  This success belongs to YOU 💛

More to come soon once final totals are in… stay tuned! 

We did it 🎉

Because of this incredible community, we have officially unlocked $50,000 from Guanacaste Ventures US for emergency assistance for CACM students.

This is what Giving Day is all about.

These funds will provide immediate, critical support to students facing unexpected financial challenges helping them stay enrolled, stay focused, and stay on track to graduate.

Every single gift, share, and moment of support made this possible.

To everyone who gave, advocated, and believed in our students… thank you. This impact is real and it is happening because of you.

The Dr. Shelby R. Wilkes Memorial Scholarship Challenge has officially been met—unlocking an additional $10,000 to support KSU students and honor the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Shelby R. Wilkes!

Dr. Wilkes, founder of the KSU Black Alumni Society, was a visionary leader whose impact on Kennesaw State University continues to be felt today. He created a lasting community rooted in mentorship, service, and opportunity, championing student success and opening doors for future generations. This milestone ensures his legacy lives on, empowering students to carry his vision forward.

Thanks to the incredible support of our alumni, the Alumni Giving Challenge has officially been unlocked! With 400 alumni stepping up to give back, the KSU Alumni Association Board has released an additional $15,000 in support of the Commencement Assistance Project and ASCEND students.

This milestone is a powerful reminder that every gift, no matter the size, makes a lasting impact. Because of our alumni, more students will have the resources and support they need to cross the stage and reach graduation.

The leaderboard is heating up and it is tight. Every single share, text, and post is making a difference right now. If you’ve been waiting for your moment… this is it.

We are officially in our “late to class” sprint to 5:00 PM, and a few extra donors could shake up the entire leaderboard 👀

1. Leah Weaver- CSM

2. Lei Li- CCSE

3. Jessica Aguirre - SAFE Center 

Running a little late? No problem, you are right on time to make an impact.

We have officially hit our goal of 1,500 donors, and the energy across campus has been incredible. Thank you for being part of such a strong showing of support!

If you have not made your gift yet, consider this your moment to slide into Giving Day before the final bell at 5:00 p.m. There is still time to show up, make your mark, and be counted.

Every gift adds to the momentum as we finish strong together.

🚨 Scrappy Showdown Power Hour is ON! 🚨

From 5:00–7:00 PM, it’s game time, Owls 🦉

The top men’s team AND top women’s team in dollars raised during this window will each unlock an extra $500 thanks to Caric Martin ‘76 💰

🔥 And here’s the twist…
Co-ed teams are eligible to sweep BOTH prizes. Yes, you could take it all.

This is your moment to rally your team, share your link, and make every dollar count.

Let’s see who rises to the top. Ready… set… GIVE!

1. Leah Weaver and College of Science and Mathematics 

2. Lei Li

3. Jessica Aguirre 

Let's keep this going!! We can't wait to see what the rest of the evening brings!

The Wellbeing@KSU match, powered by our incredible partners at the Spencer Bradley Foundation, has officially been completed!

Rooted in a mission to support families, communities, schools, and individuals, the Spencer Bradley Foundation is dedicated to advancing mental health awareness, education, and access to counseling resources. Through their partnership with Theta Chi Fraternity at KSU, they continue to honor Spencer’s legacy by investing in meaningful support systems for students.

Thanks to 30 generous donors, we’ve unlocked $17,000 for Wellbeing@KSU, expanding programs that promote mental health, resilience, and a culture of care across campus.

1. Lei Li 

2. John Havard

3. TIE! Jessica Aguirre, Randy Kennedy, Leah Weaver

Let’s keep it going strong all day and into tomorrow. Keep sharing, keep celebrating, and let’s make this our biggest Giving Day yet! 🦉💛

Giving Day is LIVE! 🎉

At 8am, the site officially flipped and we are off and running! You can now see every fund in real time, including donors and dollars raised across campus. It is always so fun to watch the momentum build throughout the day!

We’ve already had an incredible start with early giving, and now it’s time to keep that energy going. Help us hit our matches and challenges by sharing, posting, and spreading the word through tomorrow at 5pm. Every gift and every share makes a difference for our students.

Let’s go, Owl Nation. Give a hoot and make your impact today! 🦉💛