A new method of making fundraising more social has proved successful at Columbus State University, helping to generate more than a quarter million dollars in support of the university’s First Choice comprehensive campaign.

CSU GIVES was the largest concentrated online fundraising campaign the university has ever sponsored. The key focus of the campaign, a 58-hour online fundraising drive, ran during CSU Homecoming last year (Nov. 9-12). Donations totaling almost $300,000 poured in before, during and after the drive, which doubled as a catchy celebration of the college’s founding year, 1958.

Plans are forming for yet another exciting homecoming week (Oct. 16-21), and CSU GIVES will return as part of the festivities. Participants can look forward to interacting with fellow alumni in real time on Give Campus, the national crowdfunding site through which CSU GIVES was managed.

“The purpose of this campaign was to encourage and engage friends, alumni and the community in a way that was more meaningful, within a time frame that was significant to CSU, and on a public platform that was more interactive,” said Ashley Lee, development coordinator for CSU.

All donations benefit the CSU Fund, which provides broad-based support for all institutional priorities and college-based programs, including student scholarships, academic programs, community outreach, student and faculty development, and opportunities for distinction. Donors also can designate their gifts for specific programs or purposes.

“Donors give because they believe in the people at CSU,” said Lee. “They believe in our mission, and they believe in the opportunities afforded to students that are only available at CSU. It’s not just another transaction. These donations are transformative.”