WVU Day of Giving is over, but you can still make a gift to the area that means the most to you! Visit give.wvu.edu
First-Generation Initiatives


WVU welcomes students who are first-generation — those whose parent(s) or guardians(s) do not have a four-year degree from a college or school within the U.S. We understand that being first may come with unique challenges. FirstGen Initiatives is here to help students transition to college by building connections to our FirstGen community and navigating campus resources. Donations may be used towards financial assistance, co- curricular activities, and academic expenses for students.

Thanks to the work of FirstGen Initiatives with the Center for First-generation Student Success, West Virginia University has been designated as a FirstGen Forward Campus. The additional exposure of the program has resulted in a greater need for funds to assist our FirstGen students. Approximately 22% of our undergraduate students self-identify as being FirstGen, but that number continues to rise as students learn they are a first-generation student.

Compared to legacy student peers, FirstGen students:  

•  Have fewer financial resources

•  Pursue college-level education at lower rates

•  Attain four-year degrees at lower rates

Your support is critical to help support our First-generation students go above and go beyond. We rely on passionate, loyal and caring members of the Mountaineer family, like you, to provide important opportunities for our students and the greater WVU community.

Your support empowers First-generation Initiatives to create incredible opportunities, including …

• Grant aid, purchasing textbooks, and Emergency funding for FirstGen students

• Academic and social engagement activities

• Mentoring and outreach opportunities

• Funding Assistance for Study Abroad

When you make a gift—no matter the size—you help make an immediate impact for our First-generation students. Your spirited generosity and devotion to is greatly appreciated.

Success!
Day of Giving Facebook Sharing Video Challenge
Help spread the word about WVU Day of Giving by sharing the promotional video from the @WVUFoundation Facebook account (posted on March 11). The top three participating groups that receive the most shares of the video from their page before March 20 will win additional funding. 1st ($1,000) – WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute | 2nd ($500) – WVU Davis College | 3rd ($500) – WVU Honors College
Completed
Success!
WVU Spirit GIF Challenge: 8 a.m.
Reply to the @WVUFoundation social media post at the top of the 8 a.m. hour on Facebook, X or Instagram with a GIF that shows your WVU spirit and we’ll select three of the most creative to earn additional funding. Make sure to tag the specific unit you wish to support. Winners: WVU Statler College – ($1,500), WELLWVU – ($1,000), Reed College of Media – ($500)
Completed
Success!
Most Alumni Gifts Challenge: 10 a.m.
Hail West Virginia! The top three participating groups with the most gifts from WVU alumni between 10 and 11 a.m. win additional funding. 1st place - College of Creative Arts ($3,000) 2nd place - Chambers College of Business & Economics ($2,000) 3rd place - Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ($1,000)
Completed
Success!
First-Time Donors Challenge: 12 p.m.
Never made a gift to WVU? Please consider making one this hour! Every donation helps! The top three participating groups with the most first-time donor gifts between 12 and 1 p.m. will win additional funding. 1st place - Science Adventure School ($3,000) 2nd place - College of Law ($2,000) 3rd place - WVU Extension ($1,000)
Completed
Success!
WVU Gear Kid Photo Challenge: 4 p.m.
Between 4 and 5 p.m. on social, post a picture of your kid(s) in WVU gear and we’ll select three of the most creative to earn additional funding. Make sure to include #WVUDayofGiving and tag the specific unit you wish to support. 1 – WELLWVU ($1,500) 2 – WVU Dance Team (Student Life) ($1,000) 3 – WVU Medicine Children's ($500)
Completed
Success!
Largest Gift Online Challenge: 6 p.m.
Ready to go all-out? The top three participating groups with the largest gift online between 6 and 7 p.m. win additional funding. 1st place - College of Creative Arts ($3,000) 2nd place - Hail West Virginia ($2,000) 3rd place - Women of WVU ($1,000)
Completed
Success!
Favorite WVU Moment Photo Challenge: 8 p.m.
Reply to the @WVUFoundation social media post at the top of the 8 p.m. hour on X with a photo of your favorite WVU moment and we’ll select three of the best to earn additional funding. Make sure to tag the specific unit you wish to support. 1 – WVU Davis College ($1,500) 2 – WVU Student Government Association ($1,000) 3 – Adventure WV ($500)
Completed
Success!
Repeat Gifts Challenge: 10 p.m.
If you’ve already made a WVU Day of Giving gift, we sincerely thank you and offer this challenge! The top three participating groups with a donor(s) who gives for the second, third or even tenth time between 10 and 11 p.m. will win additional funding. 1st place - WVU Extension ($3,000) 2nd place - College of Creative Arts ($2,000) 3rd place (TIE)- Chambers College of Business & Economics ($500) 3rd place (TIE)- Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ($500)
Completed
Success!
‘I Gave’ Challenge:
After making a donation, tell others about your gift on social media using #WVUDayofGiving and #IGave. At the end of the day, we will choose three of the most creative or inspiring to receive additional funding for the unit tagged. 1 – WVU Student Food Pantry ($1,500) 2 – Boone County WVU Alumni Association Scholarship ($1,000) 3 – WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute ($500)
Completed
Success!
Day of Giving Social Prop Challenge
Take a photo or video with the Day of Giving pennant (mailed as a Day of Giving Save the Date), and share on social using #WVUDayofGiving. We’ll select one of the best posts between March 11 and March 20 to receive an extra $1,000 for the unit tagged. Winners: Adventure WV – ($1,500), School of Theatre and Dance – ($1,500), WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute – ($1,500), WVU Potomac State College – ($1,500)
Completed
Success!
Campus Photo Challenge: 9 a.m.
No matter who you are, you’ll find your place at WVU. Share your favorite campus photo on Twitter or Instagram with #WVUDayofGiving and tag your favorite campus unit. The top three participating groups with the most posts between 9 and 10 a.m. will win additional funding. 1 – WVU Davis College ($1,500) 2 – WVU Honors College ($1,000) 3 (TIE) – WVU Reed College of Media ($250) 3 (TIE) – WVU School of Medicine ($250)
Completed
Success!
Largest Gift Online Challenge: 11 a.m.
Go above and go beyond by making a significant gift! The top three participating groups with the largest gift online between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. wins additional funding. 1st place - WVU Cancer Institute ($3,000) 2nd place - Chambers College of Business & Economics ($2,000) 3rd place - School of Pharmacy ($1,000)
Completed
Success!
Mountaineer Mascot Photo Challenge: 2 p.m.
Reply to the @WVUFoundation social media post at the top of the 2 p.m. hour on X with a photo of you and the Mountaineer Mascot (or your favorite WVU Mascot photo) and we’ll select three of the best to earn additional funding. Tag the specific unit you wish to support. 1 – The Kacy Wiedebusch Dance Student Opportunity Challenge (College of Creative Arts) ($1,500) 2 – Becker Academic Engagement Success Center (WVU Chambers College) ($1,000) 3 – Adventure WV ($500)
Completed
Success!
Most Friend Gifts Challenge: 4 p.m.
We have a generous community beyond our alumni that are passionate about WVU. The top three participating groups with the most gifts from friends between 4 and 5 p.m. will win additional funding. 1st place - WVU Extension ($3,000) 2nd place - College of Creative Arts ($2,000) 3rd place (TIE) - Chambers College of Business & Economics ($500) 3rd place (TIE) - College of Law ($500)
Completed
Success!
WVU Gear Pet Photo Challenge: 7 p.m.
Between 7 and 8 p.m. on social, share a picture of your pet(s) in WVU gear on Twitter or Instagram and we will select three of the most creative to earn additional funding. Make sure to include #WVUDayofGiving and tag the specific unit you wish to support. 1 – WVU Honors College ($1,500) 2 – WVU College of Law ($1,000) 3 – Science Adventure School ($500)
Completed
Success!
“Country Roads” Challenge: 9 p.m.
“Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong…” Record a video of yourself singing or performing “Country Roads” to help your favorite unit/program and we’ll select three of most creative to earn additional funding. Make sure to include #WVUDayofGiving and tag the specific unit you wish to support. 1 – Reed College of Media ($1,500) 2 – WVU School of Medicine Charleston Division ($1,000) 3 – Mountaineer Athletic Club (Football) ($500)
Completed
Success!
Most Faculty and Staff Gifts Challenge:
As faculty or staff members, you make a difference every day for students and programs. Support an area most meaningful to you and help make a greater impact. The top three participating groups with the most faculty and staff gifts by the end of the day on March 20 win additional funding. 1st place - WVU Extension ($3,000) 2nd place - Davis College of Ag, Natural Resources and Design ($2,000) 3rd place - Chambers College of Business and Economics ($1,000)
Completed
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Or you can contact us at dayofgiving@wvuf.org.