- March 05, 2026
- By Sala Levin ’10
Nearly 10,000 supporters of the University of Maryland banded together on Wednesday to raise over $9.4 million on Giving Day, an eye-popping record high for the campus’ academic units, student organizations and initiatives.
The total for the yearly 24-hour fundraising marathon outpaced last year’s total by more than $4 million. (Since 2014, Giving Days have brought in more than $30 million.) This year’s gifts brought UMD closer to the $2.5 billion fundraising goal of Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless.
“Once again, I am inspired by the generosity of the Terp community, and incredibly proud of our collective effort to make this Giving Day an unprecedented success,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “Shattering our previous record by $4.1 million allows us to do more good as an institution, create more public impact with our research, and strengthen our communities more than ever before.”
A total of 9,985 alums, students, faculty and staff, family members and friends of UMD made 13,085 gifts to more than 650 causes. Gifts poured in from 47 states and 22 countries—the farthest of which was a donation from Australia to the Men’s Club Ultimate Fund.
“Giving Day is proof that gifts of all sizes matter, and that every Terp can make an impact,” said Diana Forbus, associate director of broad-based campaigns and strategic engagement. “It was clear this year that people want to be counted and included as part of Giving Day.”
The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) raised the most money overall, $1,460,077, from 280 donors.
“We are incredibly grateful for every one of our supporters,” said CMNS Dean Amitabh Varshney. “It is inspirational and exciting to see the remarkable impact our CMNS community can make when we come together to achieve a common goal of supporting Science Terps.”
Maryland Hillel, the campus hub for Jewish student life, ranked second for funds raised, with 700 donors contributing $1,389,688–an increase of $303,000 from last year. Hillel families offered matches and challenges totalling $600,000 to support programming and its new building.
“Maryland Hillel once again celebrated a record-breaking Giving Day,” said Maryland Hillel Executive Director Ari Israel. “These funds directly support the Jewish student community at College Park. As our new building opens in the coming months, the generosity of students, alumni, families and friends will help us expand how we serve Jewish students.”
The Division of Student Affairs counted the most donors overall, with 2,247 giving to funds within the division, including Fraternity and Sorority Life, club sports, student groups, and Terp parents and families.
Matches were an important component of Giving Day’s success; supporters offered more than $1.8 million in matching dollars to a variety of units and initiatives throughout the day. Social media challenges also offered incentives for posting before the big day, and awarded prizes to units for showing off their UMD love by dressing up their pets or sharing photos of themselves wearing UMD gear on their travels.
“This year’s Giving Day results are a testament to our university’s momentum,” said Vice President for University Relations Jim F. Harris. “This amazing display of Terrapin pride by our Maryland community shows the world how private philanthropy can have a powerful impact across our campus.”