Liberty raises $2M during inaugural Giving Day campaign

Funding to aid academics, athletics, scholarships

Published November 23, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Liberty University raised more than $2 million on Nov. 17 during its inaugural Giving Day, an all-day fundraising campaign for academic departments, athletics programs and student scholarships, the university announced Friday.

The university raised $2.003 million from more than 6,000 donors. Funding will go toward more than 100 campaign initiatives on campus.

“The response to Giving Day for Liberty was so great this year, and we want to keep that momentum going and make sure everyone has a chance to take part every year,” Jim Nichols, Liberty’s vice president of university and athletic development, said in a statement. “Even in these challenging times, a record number of our own stepped up to show their support for Liberty University. Flames Nation is strong and will only get stronger in years to come.”

The top three academic departments receiving donations included the School of Business, School of Law and School of Nursing, which each received bonus gifts of $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. 

“The teamwork between development and our alumni is kicking into high gear,” Dave Brat, dean of the School of Business, said in a statement. “Many very successful alums have been coming back to speak and share with students and that inspires them.”

The softball team received a record 1,131 total gifts, and the men’s golf program finished the with the most money raised at $166,895.

“We are so blessed by the Liberty community, in both their generosity and the energy they put forward on Giving Day,” Mike Hagen, associate athletic director and executive director of development, said in a statement. “The response from our donors — alumni, faculty, staff, the parents of current, past and future students — was overwhelming. We are truly honored to see so many investing in the lives of our students, academics and ministry.”

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