"Everything Tiger Giving Day"

As assistant director of cAUse marketing with Auburn Advancement, Lisa Lofland knows one day can change everything.   In 2015, she was part of a group charged with creating a day of giving for Auburn University. “Our team envisioned this grassroots platform,” remembered Lofland.  “We really wanted people to find their match and find the causes and projects they were passionate about.”  From that idea grew Tiger Giving Day — a 24-hour online day of giving that shines a spotlight on the people and programs that make Auburn special. “Tiger Giving Day is very story-driven, very project-based and very individualized," Lofland said. Tiger Giving Day 2026 will be held on Wednesday, March 25.  There are 35 projects – one from every college – with fundraising goals between $5,000 to $30,000.   Attention and funding are brought to projects that focus on innovation and the Auburn spirit, serving students and communities which are central to the university’s land grant mission.  Donors can support projects ranging from the Campus Kitchen and Campus Career Closet, to creating a Community Makerspace, upgrading the Auburn University Raptor Center’s travel carriers, sending youth to 4-H summer camps and more.  “This year, for the first time, we have all three ROTC branches that will have a presence on Tiger Giving Day,” added Lofland. Since 2015, more than 16,000 donors have given seven million-plus dollars to fuel over 400 life-changing projects. “It's about connection,” Lofland said. “We want to provide you with a philanthropic opportunity and connect you with like people who share the same passion.”  Since 2017, Auburn’s Adaptive Athletics program has benefited from the generosity of supporters on Tiger Giving Day. Adapted Athletics, which began in 2009 with wheelchair tennis and one student-athlete, has quickly grown to include wheelchair basketball and power wheelchair soccer with about 25 student-athletes competing across those three sports.  Tiger Giving Day donations have funded competition wheelchairs, scholarships, shot-tracking cameras, an adapted van and a recovery room.  This year, in partnership with the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Adapted Athletics is raising funds to build the next generation of power soccer wheelchairs through a collaborative, student-driven design initiative. “Getting these chairs created will allow our power soccer team to continue to compete at a high level and bring in recruits,” said Taylor. “We want to continue to play at a top level with basketball and tennis, too, and possibly add additional paralympic sports in the future.” For Lofland, Tiger Giving Day represents the unique spirit of the Auburn Family. “I always want Tiger Giving Day to be accessible to anyone at any giving level,” Lofland said. “It is an honor to steward that and continue to cultivate it.” Check out our Everything Auburn Podcast Hub!