Lincoln College will hold its first-ever Giving Day on 19-20 February, bringing together alumni, students, staff and friends of the College for 36 hours of collective fundraising and celebration.
Giving Day will take place 600 days before the 600th anniversary of the founding of the College. With its theme of Challenge 2027, it creates a shared moment for the Lincoln community to come together in support of students, teaching and the long-term future of the College, at a time of increasing financial pressure. One in three Lincoln undergraduates, for example, now receives a non-repayable College bursary, and demand for support continues to grow.
Over the course of the 36 hours, the College will share a series of short emails and digital stories showcasing the impact of philanthropy across Lincoln. These will range from student experiences and bursary support to the preservation of historic buildings and the work of Fellows and staff. The Rector, Nigel Clifford, will also explain what Giving Day means for Lincoln and why support matters now.
At the heart of Giving Day is the idea that many small gifts, made together, can have a significant collective impact. A number of matched giving challenges will run across the 36 hours to amplify donations. These include a New Donor Challenge, where 27 first-time donors will unlock an additional £5,000, and a recurring gift challenge that will boost regular donations with matched funding. There will be prizes to be won, including class drinks at the Rector’s Lodgings, a trip to Italy, and even getting to be a named character in a Cara Hunter detective novel.
Donors can choose how their funds are spent and can allocate them to:
- the 600 fund, which will help us respond to emerging needs
- the care of our historic spaces
- access and outreach, to ensure that the best and brightest students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to study at Lincoln
- travel grants, which enable students to take their studies beyond Oxford
- sports and societies, which create a vibrant culture that is very much at the heart of the student experience.
Early donations can be made ahead of Giving Day, helping to build momentum and contribute towards the matching challenges. All gifts, whatever their size, play a part.