The NIU community has come through in a big way over the past five years during the annual Huskies United Day of Giving, raising $12.5 million for significant programs and to aid students. 
 

This year, the Huskies United Day of Giving begins on Wednesday, April 2, at 4:25 p.m. and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 3.

Over a period of 1,895 minutes, to symbolize the year NIU was founded, the generous Huskie Nation will be able to directly impact the university’s students, faculty, and programs—helping fund scholarships, cutting-edge research, and transformative experiences that shape the future. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Last year, our NIU community, full of alumni and friends, came together to raise 2,623 gifts worth a total of $2,604,317, a 62% increase from Huskies United 2023.
 
“Huskies United is a celebration for our global community to come together to build brick by brick the impact for our students, to share in what makes NIU unique and become part of family legacies by giving to areas they are most passionate about,” said NIU Foundation Director of Annual Giving Meghan McClure Miller.
 

Many generous donors have stepped forward to issue challenges that will multiply this year’s giving.  Last year alone, generous donors raised more than $600,000 via these challenges!

This year’s fundraising challenges include: 

1895 Challenge: In celebration of the founding year of NIU, the 1,895th donor is to be recognized with an additional $1,895 to the fund of their choice.
 

Hourly Challenge: First donor each hour will receive $50 of additional funds to the area of their choice. (32 winners)

First Huskies United Donor Challenge: First donor of Huskies United will receive $150 of additional funds to the area of their choice.

More giving challenges and gift matches will be announced in the weeks to come.  

NIU alumni and friends are also invited to volunteer as a Huskies United Ambassador, helping spread the word and encouraging people to give and celebrate with our on-campus community at Huskie Headquarters in the Holmes Student Center. 

Whether you volunteer as an ambassador or give an amount, big or small, know that you are a part of the Huskies community that stands with hard-working NIU students and innovative faculty to support NIU, its students and programs. Thank you!

For more information on Huskies United, please visit the website: https://dog.niu.edu/
To sign up to become a Huskies United ambassador, please visit this website: https://dog.niu.edu/giving-day/83665/signup
If you have questions about becoming an ambassador, please contact Liz McKee, M.S.Ed. ’14, at Lmckee@niu.edu.