The eighth annual FSU’s Great Give begins at 8 a.m. Thursday, March 28, and ends at 8 p.m. Friday, March 29. 

FSU’s Great Give was implemented in 2012 and was one of the nation’s first higher education crowdfunding events. In fact, in 2013, FSU’s Great Give won the Grand Award for Annual Giving Philanthropy at the CASE District 3 Conference. 

An incentive program has been created that not only encourages you to support what you love at Florida State University but also creates a friendly competition between the University’s various colleges and units. 

Thanks to FSU’s Great Give and sparkFSU, online giving exceeded $1,100,000 at the end of the Raise the Torch Campaign in 2018 and was the most successful direct support channel for annual gifts. The current trajectory of FSU’s Great Give is set for continued growth in both dollars raised and number of donors. This undoubtedly contributes to the University’s reputation as a leader in alumni giving and its current standing as number nine for alumni giving among national public universities, according to the 2018 US News & World Report rankings. 

In 2018, collectively, there was $23,500 offered to help incentivize college and unit participation. During the 36-hour campaign, 77 percent of gifts were received during the hourly incentive time blocks, totaling 24 hours. Incentive awards will be granted to a college, unit, fund or project based on each award’s specific criteria. 

Top Prizes for 36-Hour Incentives:

• Grand Prize - $8,000
  • Project with the greatest number of donors during the 36 hours
  • Co-sponsored by Jeff and Valerie Gargiulo, and Dean and Eliza Cash 
• Seminole Spirit Award - $3,500
  • College or unit with the most dollars raised during the 36 hours
  • Sponsored by Christopher Iansiti 
• Big Bang Award - $2,500
  • Fund designation with the largest gift made during the 36 hours
  • Sponsored by Frank and Anne Nardozza 

Prizes for Specific Time Blocks:

• Beginner’s Luck - $1,000
  • Project with the most dollars raised during this time period
  • Thursday, March 28 – 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
  • Sponsored by Tom and Dawn Jennings
• Afternoon Energy Boost - $1,000
  • College or unit with the greatest number of donors during this time period
  • Thursday, March 28 – 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Sponsored by Sherrill and Jimmy Ragans
• Rush Hour Reward - $1,000
  • Fund designation with the most dollars raised during this time period
  • Thursday, March 28 – 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Sponsored by Tim and Peggy Cole 
• Prime Time Passion - $1,000
  • Project with the most dollars raised during this time period
  • Thursday, March 28 – 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  • Sponsored by Russell Kohl 
• Wait ’til the Midnight Hour - $1,000
  • Project with the greatest number of donors during this time period
  • Friday, March 29 – 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
  • Sponsored by Anne Hamilton-Hold and Bill Hold
• Good Morning Sunshine - $1,000
  • Fund designation with the largest gift made during this time period
  • Friday, March 29 – 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
  • Sponsored by Peter and Jennifer Collins
• The Lunch Bunch - $1,000
  • Project with the greatest number of donors during this time period
  • Friday, March 29 – 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Sponsored by David and Emily Lane
• TGIF - $1,000
  • College or unit with the most dollars raised during this time period
  • Friday, March 29 – 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Sponsored by Tom and Yvonne McAlpin
• The Final Sunset - $3,000
  • Project with the most dollars raised during this time period
  • Friday, March 29 – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Sponsored by Bill and Stephanie Lloyd