By The Keystone Newspaper KU’s biggest fundraiser of the year exceeds all expectations
By Sarah Kummery
This year’s KU 1866 Giving Challenge brought in over $600,000, over double the initial goal of $300,000. The money will help support scholarships, academic programs, student organizations, experiential learning, emergency funds and countless other initiatives across campus.
Photo Credit: Justin Shurr
One of the biggest highlights of this year’s challenge was that more than 140 teams and organizations participated. The KU Foundation’s original initiative has grown beyond a traditional fundraising campaign into a university-wide effort.
Benjamin Best, the Director of Annual Giving and Campus Partnerships for the KUF, and Jillian Lovejoy, the Senior Director of Communications at KU, emphasized that the 2026 Giving Challenge surmounted any preceding expectations.
“During the initial 1,866 minutes of incentivized giving, the KU community raised $500,000+ from more than 2,000 donors,” said Best. “By the conclusion of the campaign, we raised $601,312 from 2,664 donors, more than doubling our original fundraising goal.”
This year marked the seventh annual challenge from the KU Foundation. The focused fundraising initiative has evolved into a yearly opportunity for KU to gain funds for academic departments, student initiatives, athletic teams and campus programs.
In comparison to this year’s turnout, the first challenge in 2019 raised approximately $151,000. This year’s challenge is an accomplishment for the KU Foundation in terms of donation totals and growth of the 1866 Challenge.
The 1866 Challenge does not limit participation to any type of group. Athletic teams, university organizations and clubs all have an equal opportunity to be part of the challenge and raise funds. The 1866 Challenge does not have a minimum donation requirement either.
“Every gift makes a difference, regardless of its size,” Best said when asked about the size of gifts. “The 1866 Giving Challenge demonstrates the collective impact of individuals coming together to support something they care about.”.
While many universities fundraise in the spring, Jillian Lovejoy says that the challenge occurring during homecoming week is a part of its success.
“The 1866 Giving Challenge is about more than raising money. It’s about bringing the KU community together to support students, create opportunities, and strengthen the programs and organizations that make Kutztown special.”
According to Best and Lovejoy, donors are largely alumni, parents, friends and community members,
The massive KUF event gets its name from KU’s birth year, 1866. The first challenge took place in 2019 and was originally called the “1866 Minute Giving Challenge,” celebrating KU’s origins.
KUF staff noted that students do not have to contribute monetary donations to help KU. Things such as serving as an advocate, sharing a fundraising campaign, or helping promote a club, organization or program can make a meaningful difference.