By Emily Glory Peters
On March 26, the Scripps College community once again proved its might. This year’s Day of Giving exceeded virtually every expectation, surpassing the base goal of 425 donors by 138 percent, with more than 580 donors raising $183,286 for areas they love most at Scripps.
The day also marked a new milestone with —the highest in Day of Giving history—which were all met. Most gifts were $100 or under, that participation, not gift amount, is the true engine of progress.
Beyond giving, many alums, families, friends, faculty, students, and staff stepped up to raise awareness for the campaign through emails, texts, social media shares, videos, and word of mouth.
“This is a formidable example of what a culture of philanthropy looks like,” says President Amy Marcus-Newhall. “Seeing our community pull together for Scripps like this gives me incredible hope as we enter the College’s next century.”
Reaching new heights through extensive campus and community collaborations
Donors and advocates from around the country united to support the College’s top initiatives, resources, and programs, including the annual giving powerhouse that fuels operations, and the Scripps Access Initiative, an urgent effort to create new four-year scholarships to enroll more high-achieving students with financial need.
Day of Giving also continues to serve as fertile ground for campus partnerships. This year, the Office of Philanthropy linked arms with the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, Scripps Presents, the Department of Art, the Department of Dance, Denison Library, the Office of Sustainability, Career Planning & Resources, the Laspa Center for Leadership, the senior class, and student clubs and initiatives to boost funding for these critical areas.
“I know ‘it takes a village’ may be cliché,” says Director of Leadership Annual Giving and The Scripps Fund Karina Chappell, “but it’s a fitting sketch of the nearly 30 staff, faculty, and students who joined the Day of Giving Committee, proving once again that scaling success is never a solo endeavor.”
In a highlight of the day, students played a starring role. The Class of 2025’s quest to install a water filter filling station in Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler residence hall was met with an outpouring of peer support from more than 80 students, including 25 percent of the senior class. Their useful gift will provide clean water access and reduce plastic waste for years to come.
Witnessing students engage was inspiring, notes Coordinator for Student Campaigns and The Scripps Fund Jessica Wang PZ’22, who worked closely with the seniors to activate student giving. “Their enthusiasm reflects two of their superpowers: collaboration and a commitment to mutual aid,” she adds.
The energy and generosity of Day of Giving 2025 is a testament to the Scripps community’s growing altruism, which will be key as the College looks beyond its centennial year in 2026.
“Day of Giving is more important than a 24-hour campaign. It’s about aligning our values with our actions,” says Marcus-Newhall. “The warmth and generosity our community has shown during the Day of Giving will move us forward on initiatives essential for Scripps. I’m wholeheartedly grateful for everyone who joined in. Thank you!”
To see the full results of Day of Giving 2025, visit the campaign site here.