Third annual FIU 305 Give Day breaks participation, fundraising records

The third annual FIU 305 Give Day blew past its previous fundraising and participation records, bringing in more than $228,000 from 906 donors in the spirit of “The 305.”

305 Give Day shines a spotlight on the generosity of FIU alumni and encourages grads to give back to their alma mater by supporting scholarships, student organizations, academic programs, research – any FIU initiative that inspires them. Each year, many other Panthers – including faculty and staff, students, family and friends of the university – donate to their favorite FIU causes, too. Last year, 673 Panthers donated $65,177 (the previous records).

“What sets 305 Give Day apart is the emphasis on participation,” said Nairobi Abrams, director of loyalty and participation at the FIU Foundation and leader of 305 Give Day efforts. “Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. The simple act of giving directly impacts the lives of students and our FIU as a whole.”

In addition to supporting opportunities for Panthers’ success, alumni who give back to FIU on an annual basis also help boost FIU’s rising reputation (alumni participation is a metric measured in U.S. News & World Report rankings), which in turn boosts the value of an FIU degree.

Alumna Ariana Flores ’15, MS ’18 joined the cause as a champion for the FIU Young Alumni Network (YAN), raising $855 against a personal goal of $500 from 12 of her peers. Contributions raised by YAN’s champions supported the Young Alumni Network Scholarship for FIU alumni pursuing graduate degrees at FIU.

Flores, who is serving her first year on YAN’s executive committee, said she was excited to see the outcome of this year’s day of giving.

“I’ve learned how even a dollar contribution helps not only future Panthers, through our scholarship, but strengthens the value of being an FIU alumna, as well,” Flores said. “I wanted to become a champion to make sure that I could share the impact of a donation with my community while celebrating the 305.”

English alumnus Malik Wilkes ’08 answered the call to give with a $1,000 donation to the future FIU Alumni Center, a long-anticipated addition to FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus. The 13,700-square-foot Alumni Center will be housed in a new building facing Tamiami Trail, which will also include a 150-bed hotel and conference center.

“I'm excited for the potential of the facility. It will be a place for alumni to stay when they are visiting, to host conferences, speakers, and even weddings — all right in the heart of our city. It will be a true representation of the 305!” Wilkes said.

Because alumni donations between $50 and $25,000 were matched 1:1 on 305 Give Day this year, Wilkes’s gift made double the impact.

“Giving to FIU on 305 Give Day was important to me because of how much the university has done for our community, from educating so many of our community leaders to being a partner to local businesses and philanthropies,” Wilkes added.

Alumni who missed the chance to donate on 305 Give Day but would still like to make their annual gift can learn more at https://www.fiualumni.com/give-back/annual-giving/index.html.

Be sure to mark your calendar for next year’s FIU 305 Give Day – Sunday, March 5, 2023!