Taylor University’s theme for Giving Tuesday, which was on Dec. 3 this year, was gratitude.
The money Taylor University raised on Giving Tuesday supports the Taylor Fund, which is raised annually to support Taylor students.
For many college campuses, 24 hour giving campaigns are just an excuse to ask for money. At Taylor University, it’s a way of inviting people to understand the connection between generosity and gratitude, Noah Huseman, the coordinator of digital engagement and annual giving, said.
“I wanted to draw attention to the fact that gratitude and generosity are connected, and it's kind of a virtuous cycle,” Huseman said.
Giving Tuesday is a globally celebrated day of generosity, according to the official Giving Tuesday website. Many different non-profits, charities and other organizations participate. This year, it’s celebrated on Dec. 3.
Madison Slusher, the content and special programs developer for Taylor University, said this will be the 9th year Taylor celebrates Giving Tuesday (also known as Giving TUesday). All donations to Taylor University on Giving Tuesday will be doubled.
“That fund basically helps you to have a better Taylor experience,” she said. “So it could go to study abroad opportunities, residence life, chapel experience. It also lowers your tuition by a little over $1,000 I believe, every year.”
The Taylor Fund is also a way for people far from campus to remain connected, Huseman said. Donating to the Taylor Fund is a way for people to still impact Taylor and feel like they still belong on campus, he said. This year, the goal is $3.4 million.
Last year’s Giving Tuesday campaign raised over $72,000. This year, rather than focusing on the amount raised, Taylor was focused on the number of participants involved.
“In light of a $3.4 million goal for the Taylor Fund, it's really easy for a lot of people to feel like their gift doesn't matter, that their participation is inconsequential,” said Huseman. “…in setting the 200-donor goal, what I wanted to do was draw attention to the fact that your participation matters.”
Huseman said they wanted to draw attention to the value people add by contributing to the campaign, whether or not they can give a sacrificial $5 or $50,000. They focused on the donor goal rather than the dollar amount to do so.
They also wanted to let students know what is going on and encourage them to give, Slusher said. A lot of this was done through on-campus activities planned for Giving Tuesday.
“On campus, we just like to let the students know what's going on, let them know that, ‘Hey, donors are giving today to help you, to help your Taylor experience,’” she said. “We also encourage students to give, whether you know that's $1 or $10 or $100 that they want. But really, we do the… activities on campus to bring awareness to students.”
Several activities were planned for Giving Tuesday. A booth was set up in the LaRita Boren Campus Center for students to learn more or give, or get hot chocolate, coffee or donuts.
There was also a ping-pong competition and golf carts driving around to hand out hot chocolate. Huseman said part of their goal was to bring some joy to the middle of dead week.
“Thanksgiving results in generosity,” said Slusher. “…if you're thankful for what you have, you're going to be generous to others. And it doesn't have to be monetary.”
Taylor University is an incredibly generous campus, and many faculty and staff at Taylor give to support different initiatives at Taylor, Huseman said.
Alice Tsang is a professor of finance and a donor to the school.
“Giving to a place like Taylor is a form of investment,” Tsang said.
When you invest in mutual funds, like stocks, you might get a 20% or 30% monetary return, said Tsang. However, when you invest in a school, you’re investing in students who blossom after graduation. The return on that, Tsang said, is many hundred-fold.
Those who want to get involved in Giving Tuesday can follow the three P’s, Huseman said.
He asked for people to pray Giving Tuesday is more than just transactional for donors. People can promote the campaign by sharing it on social media or telling friends and participate through giving.
Donations can be made in person, through the mail, or by visiting give.taylor.edu, and putting “Taylor Fund” as the designation.
