Eat breakfast (and lunch) for free. Throw a pie without recrimination. And enjoy an ice cream sandwich without regret, knowing that it’s your reward for contributing to the university community.

Northeastern’s annual Giving Day on Thursday will be more than an opportunity to support student groups and organizations of all kinds. It will also serve as a coming-out party after two years of limitations forced by the COVID-19 pandemic—a celebration of the new normal as the winter cold gives way to spring.

“We’re going to have a lot more engagement from students since we’re doing on-campus activities again,” says Catie Hsieh, senior associate director for leadership annual giving at Northeastern.

Last year, despite relying on virtual events because of the pandemic, Giving Day generated close to $1.3 million on more than 17,000 gifts from 28 countries. (In 2020, in lieu of Giving Day in the early weeks of the pandemic, donors were encouraged to give to Northeastern’s We Care Emergency Fund, which supports students who need temporary financial assistance during emergencies.) 

“We had no idea what would happen last year, but we definitely expected [donations] to drop,” says Jennifer Gamache, assistant vice president for annual giving at Northeastern. “And then we had exactly the opposite experience.”

The spirit of Giving Day is fed by students who raise money to support organizations and causes that matter to them. Donations can be made to specific entities or to a general fund for widespread disbursement.

One hundred percent of donations go to the faculty, teams, student organizations, and academic programs associated with Giving Day. 

“Give to what you love—we really try to promote that,” Hsieh says. “We have over 250 funds listed on the Giving Day site that people can go to and learn more about.”

No gift is too small, as Hsieh learned during the inaugural Giving Day in 2017.

“A club would bring in some money and we’d say, ‘Oh, they only got $2,000,’” says Hsieh, who then heard from club members that they were ecstatic about their windfall. 

“It can make a huge difference to a club to get $1,000 on Giving Day,” Hsieh adds. “It doesn’t take a whole lot to make an impact.”

Parents are typically among the most enthusiastic supporters.

“Parents love Giving Day,” Gamache says. “Having been a Northeastern parent myself, you get really excited about things you can do to directly impact your kids.”

Challenges have added urgency to the fundraising. The three schools or colleges that receive the largest percent increase in donors (compared to last year) will divvy up $40,000; another $40,000 will be divided among the schools and colleges that raise at least $10,000 by 1 p.m. ET.

There are challenges for Women Who Empower, support for Ukrainian students, the Global Experience Fund, and other worthy causes.  

Northeastern sports teams and clubs are sponsoring more than 20 challenges. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Snell Quad, athletes will be available to play carnival games and coaches, in exchange for a donation, will allow you to splat them with color bombs.

Other events include free breakfast and lunch at Centennial Commons, free ice cream sandwiches (from The Cookie Monstah) and pie-in-the-face opportunities in exchange for donations at Krentzman Quad, and desserts from Oakleaf Bakery at an Honors Program event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET.

“There’s going to be so much going on,” Gamache says. “It will be an amazing experience; 2019 was the last time we were able to have hundreds of students walking around and getting snacks, T-shirts, and things like that. So it’s going to be a really fun day.”

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