The 49 hours that make a difference: UA Giving Day 2026

The 49 hours that make a difference: UA Giving Day 2026

March 20, 2026

When - March 24 (starts at noon) until March 26 ( ends at 1 p.m.)

The 6th Annual Event - UA Giving Day is a large community-driven fundraising event, with thousands of alumni, donors, and supporters participating worldwide.

For years, I have had the privilege of experiencing firsthand how UA Giving Day changes lives," said University of Alaska President Pat Pitney. "Whether it's helping a first-generation student stay enrolled or supporting an academic program, these gifts ripple outward with a real and lasting impact. What we support today directly shapes the leaders, community members, and workforce Alaska will rely on in the future."

Gifts go further on UA Giving Day - The UA community has the opportunity to unlock more than $520,000 from matches and challenges, thanks to the generosity of more than 150 donors.

What will benefit - Donors can choose from hundreds of funds to benefit, including those that support students, scholarships, academic programs, research, athletics, special initiatives and more. UA General Scholarship, a scholarship to support the retention and recruitment of UAA, UAF and UAS students, is the priority initiative of UA Giving Day. In addition, each university has highlighted a priority area to meet their most pressing student needs:

• University of Alaska Anchorage:UAA Student Support
• University of Alaska Fairbanks:UAF General Scholarship
• University of Alaska Southeast: UAS General Scholarship

Ways to Participate

• Champion: Register as a UA Giving Day Championto help spread the word, inspire others to give and highlight personal priorities.
• Give: Visit givingday.alaska.eduanytime during the event to make a gift.
• Share:Anyone can make a public post on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or the UA Giving Day website using #49HoursForAlaskabefore 12:59 p.m. on March 26 to be entered to win a round-trip Alaska Airlines ticket voucher, donated by Alaska Airlines. Each post counts as a separate entry. The drawing will be announced on social media by the end of April.

For more information about UA Giving Day at each university, visit givingday.alaska.eduor contact:

• UA Director of Public Affairs - Jonathon Taylor, [email protected], (907) 786-1190
• UAA Director of Marketing & Communications - Katie Bender, [email protected], (907) 786-1435
• UAF Communications Director - Marmian Grimes, [email protected], (907) 474-7902
• UASExecutive Director of Advancement - Chris Natynski, [email protected], (907) 796-6416

For more information, please contact Maggie Demers, UA Foundation director of communications and public relations (907-450-8039 or [email protected]).