Mark your calendars for Cortland Challenge 2026

04/07/2026

The Cortland Challenge 2026 clock is ticking down to Wednesday, April 15, when SUNY Cortland begins its annual, day of giving. There's more at stake than ever.

Last year's 4,104 generous alumni, faculty and staff and friends contributed to a record total of $633,714 of institutional support, which this year's challenge organizers will seek to beat.

Therefore, Cortland Challenge 2026 donors could unlock more than $300,000 in matching gifts - $100,000 more than last year!

Until midnight on Challenge Day, students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends can give to the Cortland Challenge cause of their choice at give.cortland.edu/2026-Cortland-Challenge. These causes include The Cortland Fund, athletic teams, campus programming and more.

That same website allows supporters to learn more about the challenge and follow its progress throughout the day.

"Last year's Cortland Challenge showed what our Red Dragon community can accomplish together," said President Erik J. Bitterbaum. "What makes this day so special isn't the amount we give, but how many of us come together to give a gift. Our SUNY Cortland alumni and friends always rise to the occasion, and I'm excited to see that spirit carry us even further in 2026."

"Like every year, the Cortland Challenge is all about participation and Red Dragons everywhere coming together to support current and future students," said Natasha McFadden, director of annual giving. "Gifts of all sizes will help us reach our goals and unlock matching gifts, and gifts of all sizes can have a lasting impact at out university and in the lives of our students."

More than $118,000 in matching gifts for SUNY Cortland will be unlocked throughout the day as certain donor milestones are met:

• $8,000 unlocked at 607 donors to celebrate the community where SUNY Cortland is located.
• $10,000 unlocked at 1,000 donors
• $20,000 unlocked at 2,000 donors
• $20,000 unlocked at 3,000 donors
• $20,000 unlocked at 4,000 donors
• An extra $20,000 will be unlocked if we set a new Cortland Challenge record by reaching 4,015 donors, just one more than in 2025!

"We will have eight timed challenges, which is more than we've ever had before," McFadden said. "The first will start when we launch at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, and the last will end at 11:59 p.m. when we wrap the campaign on Wednesday, April 15."

Every unique donor will count toward unlocking matching gifts, McFadden said.

"These gifts will be awarded at multiple levels," McFadden said, "with our ultimate goal being a record-breaking 4,105 donors to unlock all awards."

The Cortland Challenge website contains a list of the generous people who make all the challenge gifts possible.

Additionally, a dollar-for-dollar match for gifts made to The Cortland Fund will be available all day, up to a total match of $20,000.

Athletics Challenge returns

The Athletics Challenge is back this year, with $10,000 on the line, and looking a little different. The 20 teams have been broken into four categories: men's and women's teams. Individual teams will compete to bring in the most unique donors to win first, second or third place awards of $2,000, $1,500 or $1,000 for their programs. After the event, $1,000 will be awarded to the team with the largest average gift per student-athlete.

Academic/Campus Departments compete

This year, 23 academic departments and 19 campus areas will be competing for the highest number of unique donors, hoping to land in the top four and win awards for their program ranging from $500 to $2,000.

"Some departments also have their own unique matches available to drive support for their specific campaigns," McFadden said.

Leading up to the big day, the entire campus community is encouraged to:

• Take part in the challenge by making their own gift, in addition to any they already made this year.
• Encourage others in the campus and alumni community to also give to the Cortland Challenge.
• Spread the word on social media accounts. A good way to do this is by sending your own transformational Cortland story via the #CortlandChallenge hashtag.
• And don't forget, on Challenge Day, use the hashtag #CortlandChallenge to follow along with other Red Dragons through Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

"In the spirit of Cortland and Red Dragons, we're always challenging ourselves to improve," McFadden said. "So, our ultimate goal is to reach 4,105 donors to set a new Cortland Challenge record.

"This year's Cortland Challenge has already broken records with more than $300,000 pledged in matching gifts and 63 teams and departments fundraising for their unique programming and initiatives," she said. "We're excited to see what the day brings, but we're most excited to once again be connecting Red Dragons everywhere as we work together to support SUNY Cortland's current and future students."