What is the Trinity University 1869 Challenge?
It's Trinity's biggest day (well, 1,869 minutes) of giving. Alumni, students, families, faculty, staff, and friends all pitch in to support Trinity students and programs. This year, we're going for 4,000 donors, because 2,500+ students means 2,500+ reasons to give. One Trinity.
📅 The Challenge runs Wednesday, September 16 at 4:50 p.m. CDT through Thursday, September 17 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
Why is it called the 1869 Challenge?
Trinity was founded in 1869, so we give for 1,869 minutes to honor that legacy (and because "31 hours and 15 minutes of giving" doesn't have quite the same ring).
Who can participate?
Everyone! Alumni, students, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, or friends of Trinity: if you love this place, your gift counts.
Can I choose where my gift goes?
Yes! You can designate your gift to support the area of campus that matters most to you. Whether that’s scholarships, academics, athletics, student organizations, or more, 100% of your gift goes to the area that you designate.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes. Trinity University is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so your gift is tax-deductible as law allows.
What’s the minimum gift amount?
The minimum donation is $5, and every gift, no matter the size, helps us reach our goal and supports Trinity students.
If I make a gift before or after the Challenge, will it count?
Early gifts will count toward the Challenge totals beginning September 1. If you miss the Challenge window, you can still support Trinity by giving at give.trinity.edu.
What if I don’t see the area I want to support listed?
No problem! Just give us a call at 210-999-7415, and we’ll help you direct your gift where it matters most to you.
How are gifts counted for challenges and leaderboards?
One gift per donor, per fund, counts toward leaderboard and challenge totals. When there are multiple gifts to the same fund from the same donor, only the first gift counts. So, the real move is to give, then get your friends to do the same.
If I send a check, will my gift be counted in the 1869 Challenge totals?
Checks received and processed on September 16–17 count toward 1869 Challenge totals. The surest way to guarantee your gift counts is to give online or call 210-999-7415.
I would like to give through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF); what do I do?
If you would like to give through a donor-advised fund, please contact the institution where your DAF is managed to set up your gift. For your DAF gift to be counted toward the 1869 Challenge please send an email to Trinity’s Office of Annual Giving at trinityfund@trinity.edu to alert them of the incoming gift. In the email, please indicate your name, the gift amount, the designation you are giving to, and that you wish to have it count toward the 1869 Challenge.
I’m celebrating a reunion year. How do I ensure my gift counts toward my class's Reunion Giving totals?
Congratulations on your reunion milestone! When you make your gift, make sure you indicate you are a Trinity alum and choose your class year in the drop-down. The ten reunion classes also have a leaderboard so you can track your class’s progress there.
Still have questions?
Email us at trinityfund@trinity.edu. We're here to help Trinity students succeed, one question (and one gift) at a time.