Powering the Future: Record Breaking Gifts Help Purdue Athletics Raise $9.5 Million for Purdue Day funds scholarships, empowers student-athletes, and helps our teams compete at the highest level..
Purdue Athletics experienced another landmark Purdue Day of Giving on April 30, raising $9.5 million through a record-breaking 3,232 gifts to support student-athletes across all 18 Boilermaker sport programs. The day was part of a university-wide effort that generated $105.1 million from 36,875 gifts—the highest number of gifts ever made in a single day to Purdue University.Boilermaker community, across all areas of campus, is a strong reminder of what’s possible when we work together,” said Mike Bobinski, executive vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. “This year’s Purdue Day of Giving reflected just how committed our supporters are to the future success of Purdue Athletics and the university as a whole.”
This year’s effort also marked the successful conclusion of the Forging Ahead campaign, which officially met and exceeded its $18.69 million goal. Launched in 2023, the campaign focused on recruiting, retention, and student-athlete development—resulting in immediate investments in leadership programming, facility enhancements, and staffing, while also establishing a permanent endowment to support future generations of Boilermakers.
“We are incredibly proud of what this collective push has accomplished—and even more grateful for the generosity that made it possible,” said Tim House, deputy athletics director and associate vice president for development. “This was a true team effort, and we are thankful for every donor who helped us finish strong.”In a major update this year, John Purdue Club priority points can now be earned through giving to any Purdue unit across the West Lafayette campus, including Purdue University in Indianapolis. Donors will continue to earn points for gifts to Athletics, but now also receive one point per $1,000 in cash gifts and one point per $5,000 in irrevocable deferred gifts to academic and other non-athletics units.
The expansion of John Purdue Club priority points also aligns with Victories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue. With a goal of $4 billion raised by early 2030, this comprehensive campaign will accelerate the growth of Purdue’s endowment while focusing on the university’s four strategic initiatives—its comprehensive urban expansion in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes, and One Health—as well as Purdue Athletics and other key areas. The financial support will help further amplify successes across the university’s land-grant mission: learning, discovery, and engagement. The philanthropic funds raised will support scholarships, professorships, research, facilities, and university programs.
