Challenges, Matching Gifts, and Mini-Grants
Don't miss the chance to multiply your impact, thanks to gift-matching opportunities from some of our most generous donors. More UA Giving Day Challenges will be added all the way up until UA Giving Day.
Tip: To find a specific challenge, use your keyboard Find command (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F). You can also view challenges sorted by each initiative: navigate to the initiative's UA Giving Day page and scroll down.
Past Events
$50,000
UAF Hockey Alumni Association Nanook Hockey Challenge
Thank you Alaska Nanooks Hockey Alumni Association and Nanooks hockey donors! $50,000 has been awarded to support our student athletes.
100 / 100 Donors
Completed
$2,000
UAF Alumni Challenge
Thank you to our 400 UAF Alumni donors and to UA President Pat Pitney for helping us unlock $2,000 to support UAF's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics!
400 / 400 Donors
Completed
$5,000
UA Supporting Alaska's Educators Challenge
Challenge unlocked! Thank you, Mary K. Hughes and the John C. Hughes Foundation, and to our generous UA Giving Day donors. $5,000 has been unlocked to support the Patricia Hughes Eastaugh Teaching Scholarship for education students systemwide. Because of you, future educators across Alaskawill receive the support they need to learn, lead, and make a lasting impact in their communities.
1,000 / 1,000 Donors
Completed
$1,000
UA Engineers Make it Happen Challenge
Alaska counts on our incredible engineers to find the solution to complex Arctic concerns. 75% of UA's grads stay in Alaska long-term, which is something to be proud of; the challenge at hand is ensuring bright students receive the support they need to enroll and graduate. Stephanie Erickson, University of Alaska Foundation board member, challenges Alaska's engineers to be part of the solution. To represent 75% of alumni staying in Alaska long-term, when we reach 750 donors to any program or scholarship, Stephanie will donate $2,000, split between UAA College of Engineering and UAF College of Engineering and Mines.
1 / 1 Donors
Completed
$5,500
UA Launch Power Hour
The UA Foundation Board of Directors thanks the first-hour donors who have set UA Giving Day on a great foot. UA Foundation Board has made their $5,500 donation to UA General Scholarship. Keep spreading the word about UA Giving Day to make UA Giving Day a success!
200 / 200 Donors
Completed
$1,000
UAF New Donors for Troth Yeddha' Initiative Challenge
Thank you President Pitney and Troth Yeddha donors! $1,000 has been unlocked in support of the Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Students Initiative.
100 / 100 Donors
Completed
Match
UAF Nanook Volleyball Mike and Judy Kelliher Match
Thank you Judy '73 and Mike Kelliher '75 and Nanooks volleyball donors! $1,000 has been unlocked to support the Nanook Volleyball Fund.
$1,000 MATCHED
Completed
$1,000
UAF Frank's Menswear Alaska Nanooks Men's Hockey Challenge
Thank you Frank's Menswear and Nanooks hockey donors! $1,000 has been unlocked to support the Nanooks!
15 / 15 Donors
Completed
$1,000
UAF Fairbanks Volleyball Association and Elevate AK Volleyball Club Challenge
Thank you Fairbanks Volleyball Association, Elevate AK Volleyball Club, and Nanooks volleyball donors! $1000 has been unlocked to support the Nanook Volleyball Fund.
10 / 10 Donors
Completed
$1,000
UAF Flower Power Hour
Thank you President Pitney and UAF donors! $1,000 has been unlocked to support the upkeep of the Georgeson Botanical Garden.
49 / 49 Donors
Completed
$3,000
UAF Gold Medalist Rifle Team Challenge
Thank you President Pitney and UAF rifle team fans! $3,000 has been unlocked to support the UAF rifle team.
25 / 25 Donors
Completed
$5,500
UAF Thomas and Lisette Lane Nanooks Volleyball Fan Challenge
Thank you Thomas and Lisette Lane and Nannoks volleyball donors! $5,500 has been unlocked to support the Nanooks Volleyball Fund.
45 / 45 Donors
Completed
$5,000
UAF Craig McConnell Men's Basketball Challenge
Thank you to Craig McConnell and men's basketball donors! $5,000 has been unlocked to support the Nanook Men's Basketball fund.
35 / 35 Donors
Completed
Leaderboard
Donors per Fund: UAF
Number of donors that gave to each fund for UA Giving Day 2026
| Rank | Fund | Donors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Studies Initiative Support | 115 |
| 2 | Nanook Facilities and Equipment Futures | 102 |
| 3 | Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) | 50 |
| 4 | UAF Food Pantry | 49 |
| 5 | Nanook Volleyball | 47 |
Ended
$1,000
UA Engineers Make it Happen Challenge
Alaska counts on our incredible engineers to find the solution to complex Arctic concerns. 75% of UA's grads stay in Alaska long-term, which is something to be proud of; the challenge at hand is ensuring bright students receive the support they need to enroll and graduate. Stephanie Erickson, University of Alaska Foundation board member, challenges Alaska's engineers to be part of the solution. To represent 75% of alumni staying in Alaska long-term, when we reach 750 donors to any program or scholarship, Stephanie will donate $2,000, split between UAA College of Engineering and UAF College of Engineering and Mines.
749 / 749 Donors
Completed
Event
UA 1000th new donor wins $1000
To celebrate the efforts of UA Giving Day Champions spreading the word about their favorite programs this UA Giving Day, the 1000th new donor will win a $1000 mini-grant. The mini-grant will be directed to the same University of Alaska initiative that the winner donated to.
Ended
Match
UAF MARK SET GO Join the Running Club North Match
Thank you Running Club North and Nanooks cross-country running team donors! $500 has been unlocked to support the Nanook Running Fund.
$500 MATCHED
Completed
Event
UA 2026th donor wins $2026
To celebrate the Class of 2026, the 2026th donor this UA Giving Day will win a grant of $2026. The grant will bolster the donor's donation in a big way! The grant will be directed to the same University of Alaska initiative that the 2026th donor donated to.
Ended
$1,000
UAF Spirit of Alaska Rifle Challenge
Thank you to Spirit of Alaska Credit Union and Nanooks rifle donors! $1,000 has been unlocked to support the Nanook Rife fund.
15 / 15 Donors
Completed
$1,000
UAF Audrey's Womenswear Alaska Nanooks Women's Volleyball Challenge
Thank you Audrey's Womenswear and Nanooks volleyball donors! $1,000 has been unlocked to support the Nanook Volleyball Fund.
15 / 15 Donors
Completed
$1,500
UAF Bucko’s Coffee Nanooks Volleyball Challenge
Thank you Bucko's Coffee and Nanooks volleyball donors! $1,500 has been unlocked to support Alaska Nanooks Athletics.
25 / 25 Donors
Completed
Success!
UAF Nanooks Athletics Director Challenge
Thank you Brock Anundson and Nanook Fund donors! The video of our Athletic Director in a basketball matchup with our student-athletes has been unlocked!
Completed
$2,500
UAF Nanooks Volleyball Cold Spot for Healthy Pets Challenge
Thank you Cold Spot for Healthy Pets and Nanooks volleyball donors! $2,500 has been unlocked to support the Nanooks Volleyball Fund.
35 / 35 Donors
Completed
Leaderboard
Dollars per Fund: UAF
Dollars add up when our community comes together. This chart includes donations, challenge awards, matching gifts, and mini-grants.
| Rank | Fund | Raised |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nanook Facilities and Equipment Futures | $87,474.00 |
| 2 | Troth Yeddha' Indigenous Studies Initiative Support | $40,020.00 |
| 3 | CFOS Graduate Student Support | $29,936.00 |
| 4 | OneTree Alaska Project Support | $26,882.00 |
| 5 | Museum Annual Fund | $22,052.00 |
Ended
