UNF Sets New Donor Record During Giving Day 2026
The University of North Florida’s 2026 Giving Day on April 8 raised more than $1.7 million from 5,884 donors, racing past the goal of 4,750 donors and marking UNF’s largest single day of donor participation. This year’s donors included students, faculty, staff, alumni, family, corporate partners and friends of the university.
With more than 120 funds benefiting the UNF community, Giving Day gifts support scholarships, clubs, programs and initiatives that provide transformational learning opportunities and essential services to help students achieve lasting success.
Athletics saw the largest number of gifts, followed by academic and student affairs initiatives such as club sports, fraternity and sorority leadership development and experiential learning.
“Your generosity strengthens quality programs, supports the exemplary work of our faculty, creates opportunities for our students and helps contribute to UNF’s upward momentum,” said UNF Interim President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti. “Together, we are helping fuel the future of the University of North Florida.”
Successful donor engagement unlocked fundraising challenges and matches across multiple departments and units. These included matching gifts from Brooks College of Health dean Mei Zhao, Hicks Honors College dean Scott Brown and College of Arts and Sciences dean Kaveri Subrahmanyam for the COAS Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities Fund. Building on this momentum, the Lend-A-Wing Food Pantry project reached its goal of 250 donors, unlocking a generous gift of $50,000 from the Lufrano Family.
In addition to campus presence, the University of North Florida was supported by many community partners that hosted Spirit Nights, including California Pizza Kitchen, Chick-Fil-A, Cold Stone Creamery, Cookie Fix, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Firehouse Subs, Island Wing Company, The Loop Restaurant, Planet Smoothie, Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery and Whit’s Frozen Custard. Thanks for joining the race.
Last year, UNF’s Giving Day raised more than $2.4 million from more than 4,500 donors.
If you missed UNF’s Giving Day this year, you can still make a gift online at gift.unf.edu/impact.