Wichita State University
Founders’ Day of Giving 2025
Each year, Wichita State University’s alumni, students, faculty, and friends come together for Founders’ Day of Giving—a 24-hour celebration of community, impact, and generosity. Now in the fourth year of this giving day tradition, Founders’ Day has become a signature moment of connection and pride for Shocker Nation.
In 2025, the WSU Foundation & Alumni Engagement team partnered with Shaff Fundraising Group to amplify this growing tradition through a unified digital strategy and authentic storytelling. Together, we transformed Founders’ Day into a record-setting moment of participation, impact, and Shocker pride.
NOTABLE OUTCOMES
$545K+
Total raised in a single 24-hour campaign
149%
200K+
Paid ad impressions generated in 24 hours
1,200+
Total Donors
LARGEST
Student participation in the history of Founders' Day
OVER 2X
Founders’ Day raised $545K, surpassing the $250K goal by $295K
of all Founders' Day website visitors were secured by paid ads
20%
417%
Increase in new donors year over year
16
Matching and challenge gifts sponsored, totaling $82,700
5.61x
Return on ad spend from day-of conversion campaign
180%
Increase in donor count year over year
20%
Increase in year over year average gift size
51%
Overall donor retention rate
GOAL
Wichita State University aimed to build on the success of previous Founders’ Day campaigns by expanding participation and deepening engagement across alumni, students, and campus partners. The Foundation sought to inspire first-time donors, re-engage loyal supporters, and showcase the power of collective giving.
With ambitious growth targets, the team partnered with Shaff Fundraising Group to strengthen campaign performance through strategic data analysis, digital integration, and a reimagined approach to storytelling and stewardship
STRATEGY
Shaff Fundraising Group partnered with the WSU Foundation & Alumni Engagement team to design a data-driven campaign built for momentum and measurable results.
Our strategy combined digital precision with authentic community engagement:
-
Data analysis and segmentation to identify top-performing audiences and donor behaviors from prior campaigns.
-
Optimized digital experience including PayPal and digital wallet options that increased average gift value.
-
Expanded challenge and match strategy, totaling $82,700 across 16 sponsorships with 15 fully met challenges.
-
Targeted digital advertising and paid media, driving over 200K impressions and a 5.61x ROAS.
-
Ambassador and advocate engagement to amplify reach and encourage peer-to-peer giving.
-
Real-time analytics dashboards empowering WSU to adjust messaging and track impact throughout the day.
The result was a campaign that united technology, storytelling, and human connection to activate every corner of Shocker Nation.
RESULT
The 2025 Founders’ Day of Giving became a defining moment for Wichita State University—raising $547,736 from 1,244 donors and surpassing its $250,000 goal by more than double.
Through close collaboration between the WSU Foundation & Alumni Engagement team and Shaff Fundraising Group, the campaign combined strong on-campus engagement with a coordinated digital strategy. Together, the teams built a unified experience that transformed Shocker pride into measurable results.
Key campaign drivers included:
-
Data-informed audience segmentation that expanded reach and improved conversion.
-
Real-time dashboards and analytics enabling agile decision-making throughout the 24-hour period.
-
16 matching and challenge gifts totaling $82,700, with 15 successfully met
-
200K+ paid ad impressions and a 5.61× return on ad spend, demonstrating the efficiency of targeted digital outreach
The campaign became a model for modern, collaborative philanthropy—strengthening donor relationships, deepening participation across audiences, and illustrating the power of partnership between data, strategy, and storytelling.
CLIENT EXPERIENCES
Shaff Fundraising Group was an indispensable strategic partner leading up to Founders’ Day. The team’s insights provided pathways and new perspectives outside of our own to expand the success of previous years to achieve results greatly exceeding our expectations. It was a true collaboration that enabled us to expand our donor base and further strengthen the culture of philanthropy across the Wichita State University community.