Brown University
$3.5 Million in 24 Hours: How Brown University Achieved #GivingTuesday Triumph
Brown University recognized the potential to rally a far-reaching community of support on #GivingTuesday but needed the right tools and strategy to drive success. With the right customer and relationship management solution in place, an easy-to navigate website, and strategic segmentation, Brown grew its fundraising by 63% year over year.
Fueled by the power of social media and collaboration, #GivingTuesday is a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy across the globe. Over 40,000 organizations participated and raised more than $380 million in 2018 alone, with some of the largest campaigns held by higher education institutions. When it comes to giving from the heart, Brown University supporters came out in full force for #GivingTuesday 2018, making it the single biggest giving day in Brown Annual Fund history.
Brown University—a centuries-old, independent, and coeducational Ivy League institution in Rhode Island—experienced an impressive 833% increase in funds raised on this day since launching its first #GivingTuesday campaign in 2014.
More than 5,000 members of the Brown community came together to help raise over $3.5 million to make #GivingTuesday 2018 one for the record books. The Brown team achieved this drastic uptick by making a few key modifications to their approach using Blackbaud solutions, according to Jeanne Pecha, vice president of advancement services and development support.
“By shifting our campaign strategy, leveraging a centralized website powered by innovative technology and a comprehensive CRM, and tapping into well-organized fundraising groups and staff, we were able to achieve our strongest #GivingTuesday yet,” Pecha said. “We were thrilled to see the level of generosity and know that the gifts received will have significant impact on the university. The giving microsite made it fun for donors to see their gift make a difference and allowed our volunteers to see progress in real time.”
