Donors Come Together to Deliver Successful Giving Day

By Patrick Bohn, April 19, 2024

More than 3,700 contribute in 24-hour period.

The IC community came together on Giving Day, with close to 3,800 individual donors.

(Photo by Alison Usavage '11)

Ithaca College’s 2024 Giving Day was a shining example of the power of the IC community, as 3,762 donors made gifts to the college, raising nearly $830,000 for academic schools, teams, programs, and initiatives.

“A tremendous thank you to all members of the extended college community who participated in Giving Day,” said Laine Norton, vice president for philanthropy and engagement. “The outcome shows the incredible power of collective participation. We are grateful for your investment in Ithaca College.”

“Whether people gave a little or a lot, each gift was an uplifting testament to our mission and vision,” said President La Jerne Terry Cornish. “We are also proud that so many in our community affirmed and honored the role that Ithaca College plays in their lives, and yesterday, as always, they showed a profound commitment to give those same opportunities—and even richer ones—to future generations of IC students.”

Athletic Achievement

Coming off their first NCAA playoff appearance in decades, the Field Hockey team had the support of more than 300 donors. (Photo by David Le)

Current and former student-athletes and supporters led the overall results, with more than 2,500 donors providing gifts to support varsity sports teams, while recreational and club sports received gifts from more than 300 donors.

“We are so grateful to our alumni, families, and friends who gave so generously to support IC Athletics,” said Susan Bassett ’79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and campus recreation. “These funds allow for crucial program enhancements that help to provide an exceptional athletics experience to keep the Bombers on the cutting edge of sports performance. From the bottom of our collective hearts, thank you to all of our Bomber faithful! We promise to make you proud every single day.”

Field hockey took the top spot among all teams, with more than 300 donors.

“Our Bomber family never disappoints; they helped us win the day,” said Head Coach Kaitlyn Wahila. “We are in awe of the support we received on Giving Day from our families, friends, and fans. These donations, no matter the amount, will help us to create incredible opportunities for our current and future student-athletes. Every day we look to create a next-level experience for our student-athletes, and the impact of every donation will be felt on and off the field. We are amazed, grateful, and appreciate everyone who showed up to support us. On behalf of my coaching staff and student-athletes, thank you!”

Gifts to Schools Provide Academic Opportunities

The School of Health Sciences and Human Performance saw a significant increase in donor support in 2024. (Photo by Alison Usavage '11)

Donors also focused their attention on academics, with a total of 777 donors giving to the five schools. Critically, every single school saw an increase in the number of donors from 2023.

“I am so appreciative of the robust level of support for our schools we saw on this Giving Day, and I thank our many loyal donors,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Melanie Stein. “Their support is a testament to the transformational educational experiences Ithaca College provides to our students through our five amazing schools. Their gifts help our talented faculty to continue to craft exceptional educational experiences which prepare our students for successful careers and fulfilling lives.”

The School of Health Sciences and Human Performance saw a 73-donor increase from the previous year.

“I am so grateful for the number of individual donors who contributed to the School of HSHP during Giving Day this year,” said dean Christina Moylan. “The growing support for HSHP and our mission is so meaningful. Each and every gift will make a difference in our ability to provide a distinctive student experience as we prepare the healthcare workforce of tomorrow.”

Numbers Rising

Annual Giving Day donor figures by school

Roy H Park School of Communications
2023: 153
2024: 169

School of Music, Theatre, and Dance
2023: 79
2024: 115

School of Business
2023: 69
2024: 102

School of Health Sciences and Human Performance
2023: 168
2024: 241

School of Humanities and Sciences
2023: 87
2024: 150

Matches Maximize Impact

There were many donation matching opportunities available throughout the day, and the IC community ensured that their gifts went further by unlocking 20 matches, including an anonymous $50,000 gift that was unlocked when the college hit the donor’s overall goal of 3,500 individual contributors.

“Thank you to the leaders who stepped up to help challenge and encourage participation,” Norton said. “Your giving was essential to the success of this year’s Giving Day and we’re grateful.”

Giving Thanks

Throughout the day, current students made sure that donors knew their gifts were appreciated, as they spent several hours handwriting thank you notes to donors for their generous contributions.

“Having our students involved on Giving Day not only supports the institution but also instills a sense of pride, gratitude, and community spirit among students,” said Alumni and Family Engagement Coordinator Kelly Dukerich. “I was incredibly proud to see our students immersed in the excitement of Giving Day.”

“It takes a lot of generosity to give to a college and everyone deserves a special acknowledgment,” said Rua Fay ’26. “The success of the day shows that there are so many generous alums.”