More than 150 student organizations have signed up for Villanova University's 10th annual 1842 Day, a record for the fundraising event set for Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The number more than doubles last year's tally. At the ninth annual event in fall 2025, more than 70 student groups participated in the Student Giving Power Hour, a segment where clubs compete for donors. This year's Power Hour also marks its fifth anniversary.
Kasia Jaworski, Villanova's director of Annual Giving Initiatives, told The Villanovan that the Power Hour ranks groups by donor count, not dollar totals, so students can give at any level.
"The Student Giving Power Hour is personally my favorite part of the day because it highlights all the amazing causes our students care about, in a fun and energizing atmosphere," Jaworski said.
Top groups in each size tier earned a $500 bonus toward their organizational budget at last year's event.
The 24-hour day of giving, named for the university's founding year, has grown from a primarily digital fundraiser into a campuswide tradition. Jaworski described 1842 Day as a university-wide initiative led by University Advancement, with planning that stretches across departments including Dining Services, Facilities, the Office of the President and Public Safety. Alumni volunteers, faculty and student organization leaders also help run the day.
Last year's edition raised more than $8.1 million from 9,341 donors, surpassing a goal of 8,000.
New for 2026 is the Wildcat Challenge, an athletics fundraising competition with $100,000 in prize money for varsity programs, according to Villanova Athletics. The top overall program earns the Varsity Cup and a $25,000 prize for its sport operating fund. Categories include unique donor participation, first-time donor engagement, average gift size, alumni support and year-over-year growth. Student-athletes will take part in on-campus festivities and use dedicated Champion Links to track donor engagement from their outreach.
A gift from Caroline '92 CLAS and Michael Burns will add $300 to every donation to Villanova Athletics on Sept. 29, up to $1 million.
The university has not announced a fundraising goal for the 10th edition. Donations open Tuesday, Sept. 29, and run for 24 hours.
