Penn State’s University Libraries Development Department was among the recipients of the 2016 Teamwork and Collaboration Award presented by the Division of Development and Alumni Relations’ (DDAR) at its quarterly meeting in May at the Nittany Lion Inn. Celebrating individuals and units that demonstrated DDAR core values, such as teamwork and fostering a collaborative workspace, the award also recognized the department’s commitment to making the 2015 Giving Tuesday event a philanthropic success.
Giving Tuesday, held on December 1, 2015, collectively raised a grand total $296,727 from 1,376 individual gifts with the Libraries receiving $31,807, exceeding its $25,000 goal. The 24-hour global initiative was adapted for Penn State campuses with efforts specifically focused to challenge donors to support critical needs, including the Libraries’ fund for purchasing textbooks, which makes course texts and other required materials available to students through the Libraries.
A recent Penn State graduate tweeted a message during Giving Tuesday to show appreciation for the program: “Thank you to all who have donated! This program has saved me over $1000 in textbook costs over the past 2 semesters!”
Direct mail, the Lion Line telefund service, and online giving programs were developed to engage donors from across the Commonwealth to give back to Penn State. Using the hashtag #GivingTuesday across social media platforms, the Libraries helped generate awareness for both the Libraries Textbook Fund and the 2015 overall campaign.
The Penn State Bookstore, managed by Barnes and Noble; Shipley Energy; and Penn State University Press matched donor funds for the 2015 Giving Tuesday event. This philanthropic event also was a success thanks in part to several Libraries faculty and staff members involved through volunteer work and supportive efforts as well as Penn State’s Giving Tuesday Planning Team, Annual Giving, Development Communications, Information Systems, Donor & Member Services, Donor Relations, and the other two partner fundraising units, Penn State Athletics and Penn State Mont Alto.
Funding from Penn State’s first year of participation in the Giving Tuesday event allowed the Libraries to expand its textbook purchases. Given that the Libraries’ textbook purchases increased by 21 percent from 2013-14 to 2014-15, this added funding has immediate and significant impact.
The Giving Tuesday event for 2016 is scheduled for November 29.
The Penn State University Press donates ten percent of the proceeds from orders placed directly on its website, http://www.psupress.org, support the purchase of student textbooks on reserve through the University Libraries.