What a Difference a Day Makes

WAGD2020 results are now official. Congratulations SOFTBALL and MEN’S BASKETBALL!


We asked you to soar with us as we chase excellence and you responded in record-setting fashion. In just 24-hours you and 1842 other donors helped raise more than $130,000 in support of Wesleyan Athletics – a new #WAGD record.

I know I speak for our coaches and student-athletes when I say THANK YOU! Cardinals near and far came together to make a better tomorrow. WAGD is a fun way to give back and make a difference for current and future Cardinals. We would not be able to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to achieve, serve, and lead at the highest levels without the enthusiastic support of our alumni, parents, friends, and fans.

Whether you gave on WAGD, or earlier in the year, we are extremely thankful for your investment in Wesleyan Athletics. Funds raised will provide impactful support for a wide range of needs and opportunities for each of the 30 varsity teams and 600 student-athletes.

I am thankful to our student-athletes, coaches, staff, volunteers and campus colleagues who worked so hard to make this amazing day possible.

With Cardinal Pride,

Mike Whalen '83, Frank V. Sica Director of Athletics

 

Leaderboards are FINAL.

GIFT COUNT: 1843               

DOLLAR COUNT: $132,037.30

Note: with gifts from parents and friends, teams may exceed 100% of solicitable** base

Women's Sports

1
Softball
219%
2
Volleyball
214%
3
Basketball
78%
4
Field Hockey
73%
5
Ice Hockey
67%
6
Soccer
31%
7
Tennis
26%
8
Lacrosse
20%
9
Crew
16%
10
Swimming & Diving
15%
11
Cross Country
12%
12
Squash
7%
13
Track & Field
5%

Men's Sports

1
Basketball
118%
2
Tennis
113%
3
Football
23%
4
Ice Hockey
21%
5
Crew
19%
6
Lacrosse
18%
7
Wrestling
18%
8
Swimming & Diving
16%
9
Cross Country
16%
10
Golf
13%
11
Soccer
10%
12
Squash
8%
13
Baseball
7%
14
Track & Field
3%

FAQs

  • How do I make a gift?

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    Make a gift online by visiting http://give2athletics.wesleyan.edu or over the phone at 860-685-2110 by Wednesday, February 5. Unfortunately, we cannot accept stock gifts (unless arranged in advance) as part of the WAGD competition. All gifts are tax-deductible.

  • How are donor percentages determined? How can my small team compete against a larger one?

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    We've leveled the playing field by using donor percentages based on each team's solicitable alumni base—not by counting dollars or number of gifts. Solicitable base = the number of alumni who have made a gift to the team in the last 5 years.

    If a team's base is smaller, it will take fewer donors to have a similar percentage of giving as a team with a larger alumni base. 

    Non-alumni who make gifts to a team fund will drive the percentage up that much more. Therefore, it is possible to have donor participation exceed 100 percent.

  • What do my gifts fund?

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    Your gifts are crucial to the operational expenses Wesleyan Athletics faces daily—the equipment our athletes compete in, their pre- and post-game meals, travel expenses, assistant coach salaries and more.

    They provide resources necessary to keep us sustainable and competitive in today's intercollegiate landscape, while also shaping the future of Wesleyan Athletics. Each year our reliance on private support—to supplement the department's operating budget—increases with the rising costs of maintaining a quality NESCAC athletic program.

     

  • Where do gifts go?

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    They go to where you direct them! Donors are encouraged to support one or more of our Cardinal teams through the Coach's Fund program. 100% of your gift will be restricted to the team(s) you select.

  • When do I need to make my gift for it to count toward WAGD?

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    All gifts must be online and received no later than Wednesday, February 5, 11:59 p.m. EST to be included in the WAGD competition. Transactions completed after midnight will be accepted, though not counted in the competition.

  • Is there a minimum or maximum gift amount?

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    Yes. There is a minimum gift of $5 to count for WAGD20. 

  • Does my gift count towards the Wesleyan Fund?

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    Unfortunately, no. Gifts for Wesleyan Athletics are considered restricted and do not count toward the Wesleyan Fund. We encourage you to also support the Wesleyan Fund by visiting http://give.wesleyan.edu.

  • Am I able to make multiple gifts during the WAGD competition? How do they count?

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    Multiple gifts by the same donor will register as a single gift as it relates to the 1000 collective donor goal. However, gifts to multiple teams will increase each team's donor percentage on their respective leaderboard.

  • Will leaderboards be updated often?

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    Yes! At launch, leaderboards will reflect team donor percentages year to date. For the WAGD day (Feb 5), leaderboards will be updated as frequently as possible. The updates will be noted on the website. 

     

  • Will gifts to the Cardinal Fund for Athletics count for the collective goal of 1000 donors?

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    Yes! All gifts to the CFFA will be counted in the cumulative donor totals and help toward the collective goal of 1000 donors. Any CFFA-dedicated gifts will not be part of the leaderboard challenge.

  • Are corporate matching gifts able to be counted in WAGD?

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    We encourage corporate matching gifts, but are unable to process them as part of the WAGD totals. Corporate matching gifts will be directed to the selected designation following WAGD.

  • Are individual team challenges permitted for WAGD?

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    Yes! Team challenges are strongly encouraged to help promote giving. Team challenges must be vetted with Karen Whalen, director of athletic fundraising, prior to WAGD. You may contact her at kwhalen@wesleyan.edu.

    If the donor offering the team challenge is able to submit their challenge gift via the above conditions (i.e., credit card payment) by February 5, the gift will be counted to that team's leaderboard percentage. If received after February 5, the gift will not count toward WAGD totals.

  • Can partners or spouses split their gift and get credit for two gifts?

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    On WAGD, each transaction counts as one donor for competition count purposes. Individuals must complete their own independent gift transaction to count as a donor. There is no option to split a single gift transaction between two donors.

  • How can I help Wesleyan Athletics Giving Day succeed?

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    Promote participation among your teammates and friends! The Athletic Department cannot provide any donor participation reports to align with specific team donor outreach initiatives.

    Post about WAGD on social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtag #WAGD20. Call and e-mail fellow Cardinals and encourage them to also give.