Student Experience
Giving Day raises nearly $2 million
On the 10th anniversary of Giving Day, the UC Santa Cruz community shattered records for total dollars raised and number of contributing donors.
For ten years, the UC Santa Cruz community has come together to celebrate generosity, connection, and Slug spirit.
Key takeaways
- Over 8,000 donors raised nearly $2 Million during Giving Day 2025.
- Slug Rugby broke the record for total dollars raised by a single project with nearly $68,000.
- For the second year in a row, Formula Slug broke the record for total number of donors for a single project with over 900 participants.
Giving Day 2025 wrapped up with record-breaking numbers, setting new milestones with nearly $2 million raised from more than 8,000 donors. In addition to the new grand totals, two project teams broke records for total dollars raised for a single project and total number of donors for a single project.
“Giving Day embodies the remarkable generosity of our community,” said UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive. “It’s important to note that this total was not achieved with a few big donations. This was our community — faculty, staff, students, family, friends, and supporters — stepping up, making a huge difference in the lives of our students one small donation at a time. This outpouring of generosity is a powerful reminder of the belief that so many have in what this university makes possible.”
Since 2015, thousands of Slugs and their supporters have united annually to support scholarships, groundbreaking research, student clubs, athletics teams, resource centers, and more. Over that time, nearly $9 million has been raised to support UC Santa Cruz students. Every gift, big or small, adds up to create lasting change and transform the student experience.
The 10th annual Giving Day hosted more than 200 project teams,15 challenges, and raised funds for thousands of students participating in campus programs and organizations.
“Our community has shattered every record, demonstrating what we can accomplish when we come together as a donor collective,” said Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Mark Delos Reyes Davis. “This Giving Day reflects the deep commitment of UC Santa Cruz alumni, students, families, faculty, staff, and friends to providing an extraordinary experience for our students.”
Slug Rugby and Formula Slug set new records
UC Santa Cruz’s Men’s and Women’s Rugby Clubs, known collectively as Slug Rugby, broke the record for total dollars raised by a single project. Capping the day off with nearly $68,000 raised, Slug Rugby is positioned to meet its fundraising goals for the 2025-26 academic year.
“We’re deeply grateful to our alumni, families, and friends for standing behind both rugby teams and helping us reach new heights on and off the pitch,” said Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Rugby and Professor and Chair of MCD Biology Jeremy Sanford. “Their generosity and enthusiasm embody the spirit of teamwork that defines our program. We also want to thank the university for its institutional support and for giving us a platform to share our story and engage the broader UCSC community. Together, we’re building something truly special—a tradition of courage, character, and commitment that continues to inspire our student-athletes every season.”
The Men’s and Women’s Rugby Clubs are entering their most ambitious season yet. The men’s team, ranked No. 23 nationally in Division 1A last season, is determined to climb into the upper echelon of the California Conference. The women’s team is making history—after a top-three finish last season, they’ve earned promotion to the Division 1 Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference.
Giving Day funds for the two rugby teams will be used to cover essential expenses throughout the academic year, including travel, field rental, equipment, nutrition and recovery support, uniforms, and practice gear.
Formula Slug, UC Santa Cruz’s student-run, competitive electric vehicle team, finished Giving Day with five challenge wins, and a record-breaking 900-plus donors. For the second year in a row, the team achieved the highest number of donors of any project, raising nearly $48,000 to fuel another successful competitive year.
With the funds raised, Formula Slug will be able to complete development of FS-4, the latest iteration of their electric vehicle. Building on the success of FS-3, which placed 19th out of 120 teams and earned third place in efficiency during the team’s third year of competition, Formula Slug plans to finalize the FS-4 design and begin manufacturing in December.
As UC Santa Cruz celebrates this year’s accomplishments, the university looks forward to building on this momentum for Giving Day 2026. Join us next year in continuing to empower our students, support innovative projects, and create lasting change.