One Day Giving Challenge

Today is a big day for Houghton University.

Houghton donors have challenged alumni, parents, and friends of Houghton to make today, April 12th, a special day to give to Houghton University. Your gift to the Student Scholarship Fund helps us ensure that Houghton students continue to receive the scholarship support they need to make a Houghton education accessible.

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Did you know that 99% of Houghton students rely on financial aid?

Gifts to the Student Scholarship Fund help us ensure the lowest–priced Christian university in the nation can provide necessary financial aid to students from across the country and around the world. And the best part… your donation will be matched dollar or dollar. This is just one of the ways you can give today.

Class Challenge Decade Challenge

Time Remaining

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Progress Toward our Goals

Progress toward our 1883 donor goal to unlock $615,000

Progress toward our $325,000 Student Scholarship Fund goal

Amplify Your Gift

See how your gift can be amplified through our matches and challenges.

Dollar-for-Dollar Match

Every dollar given toward the Student Scholarship Fund will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $325,000.

1883 Challenge

When 1883 donors make a gift today to any project, Houghton will receive additional gifts totaling $615,000 designated for additional strategic priorities.

Alumni Class Challenge

A $30,000 prize will be awarded to create or grow an existing endowed scholarship for the class with the greatest number of donors today.

Millennium Challenge

A new $12,500 prize will be awarded to create or grow an existing endowed class scholarship for the class with the greatest number of donors from the 20th century and the 21st century. (A class can only win the Class Challenge or the Millennium Challenge.)

Decade Challenge

The class in each decade to have the greatest number of donors will have a one-year-only current use scholarship of $1,000 given in the name of that alumni class. One class from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s will each have a chance to win.

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Challenge Leaderboards

Alumni Class Challenge

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Where does your class stand?

Millennium Challenge

20th Century Leader

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Decade Challenge

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Houghton student standing with purple sign that reads, So Glad You're Here.

Houghton donors have offered these challenges in hopes their investment will bring together alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends for one day to help ensure a Houghton education remains affordable and accessible for future generations of scholar servants.

We use the information in the alumni database to ensure your gift is counted toward all eligible challenges. Tell us in the gift form comment box if you want to be sure we have your class year correct.

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To give over the phone, please call 585-567-9340.

Frequently Asked Questions

If my spouse and I are both alumni, does our gift count as one or two toward our goal of 1883 donors?

If both spouses are alumni, then one gift from the couple will count as two donors toward our goal of 1883 donors.

Does my gift count toward my reunion class giving?

Yes! If you are a member of the class of 2019, 2014, 2009, 2004, 1999, etc… your gift will count toward both the reunion giving challenge and the One Day Giving Challenge. If both you and your spouse are alumni, your gift will count toward each spouse’s graduating year.

Learn more about the reunion giving challenge >.

Can I make a gift from my IRA?

If you are 70 ½ or older, you can make a gift from your IRA by calling 585.567.9340 or emailing advancement@houghton.edu to make an IRA gift pledge. Once you’ve made your pledge, contact your IRA administrator to transfer funds to Houghton University. By contacting Houghton University and pledging on April 12th, your gift will count toward today’s challenges.

Learn more about making a gift from your IRA >.

Can I make a gift of securities or appreciated assets?

Yes, you can make a gift of securities or appreciated assets by calling 585.567.9340 or emailing advancement@houghton.edu and to make a pledge and notify us of the securities or appreciated assets that will be transferred. Then contact your financial institution to transfer the assets to Houghton University. By contacting Houghton University and pledging on April 12th, your gift will count toward today’s challenges.

Can I give to my preferred program/project, or make an unrestricted gift, and have it count toward the challenges?

Yes and no. Gifts made toward something other than the Student Scholarship Fund will count toward our 1883 Challenge, the Class Challenge, the Millennium Challenge, and Decade Challenge, but not toward the $325,000 Dollar-for-Dollar Match. Gifts toward projects such as the endowed funds do not count toward the Student Scholarship Fund match.

How is my class year determined for the Class Challenge, Millennium Challenge and the Decade Challenge?

Houghton uses the class year recorded in the alumni database. You can add your class year to the comments box of the giving form if you have concerns about whether or not your class year in the alumni database is correct.

Can my class win both the Alumni Class Challenge and the Millennium Challenge?

No. The Millennium Challenge winner will be the first-runner-up in whichever group the Alumni Class Challenge represents, allowing us to honor the hard work and dedication of even more alumni donors. For example, if the Class of 1987 wins the Class Challenge, the Millennium Challenge winners will be the first-runner-up in the 20th Century group and the winner of the 21st Century group.

What is the difference between the Alumni Class Challenge and a Class Scholarship?

The Alumni Class Challenge is a competition between all active alumni class years to create or grow an existing endowed class scholarship. A Class Scholarship is an endowed fund named in honor of a specific graduating class. Many classes already have a class scholarship endowment. There are 17 endowed class scholarships, but many more active alumni classes participating in the Alumni Class Challenge. If you’re not sure if your class has and endowed scholarship fund, view the current class scholarship leaderboard.

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