This fall, University of Northern Colorado (UNC) Athletics pioneered its inaugural giving day campaign, Building Champions. Thanks to the dedication and immense generosity of the UNC community, the overall outcome surpassed the university’s expectations.  

The global outpouring of support from loyal athletics fans resulted in 766 gifts from 637 donors. Donations ranged far and wide, coming from 37 states and 11 countries. In the end, the campaign raised a total of $261,393 to support more than 400 student-athletes.  

“Building Champions was a huge success, and I want to thank all who contributed to this effort,” said Athletics Director Darren Dunn. “The resources from our first Building Champions giving day are invaluable in helping us build champions of life. I am so appreciative of the support for UNC Athletics!”  

Thanks to the generosity of several forward-thinking donors, the availability of $116,500 in matching funds played a major role in the success of the Building Champions campaign.

Nine incredibly generous donors committed a dollar-for-dollar matching gift for every sports team, allowing donors to instantly double the impact of their donation. Nearly every matching gift was quickly met or surpassed.  

The grassroots effort that each program and their studentathletes committed to helped the overall success of the campaign. Through personal outreach, texting and calling friends and family, student-athletes increased awareness and engagement leading up to the day of giving. Many studentathletes reached out to at least five people, letting them know about the campaign and what their support meant for their program, enhancing their opportunities to be fierce competitors in their sports and in the classroom. 

The Building Champions campaign has given student-athletes another opportunity to see the profound impact donors have on their programs and respective team priorities. Ranging from enhanced nutrition options to travel expenses and tournament costs, the student-athletes know the resources and experiences they have are provided by those who were previously in their shoes and those who are cheering them on from the stands and sidelines.  

This understanding helps instill a culture of philanthropy. UNC’s student-athletes are the next generation of graduates and donors who will go on to give future Bears the opportunities and resources they’ll need to be competitive. Knowing the importance of giving back is a core value for UNC Athletics and a key contributor to their success over the years.