Big Red Champions Challenge

Thanks to the Big Red Champions Council, gifts of $100 or more to the Core Athletics Annual Fund made by May 31 will be matched 2:1, up to $250,000. And, when 250 donors make gifts of any amount to the annual fund, we’ll unlock an additional $250,000 for student-athletes. That’s a total of $500,000 in bonus funds you can help secure for Cornell Athletics!

Give by May 31 to be counted.

Challenge details

• All gifts and matching funds will support the Athletics Core Annual Fund, benefiting all Cornell student-athletes.
• Gifts must be made between 12:00 a.m. ET on May 4, 2026, and 11:59 p.m. ET on May 31, 2026.
• Gifts of $100 or more to the Athletics Core Annual Fund will be matched $2 for every $1 donated, up to a total of $250,000 in matching funds.
• Once the $250,000 match is fully allocated, additional gifts will not be matched—but will still count toward the donor challenge.
• When 250 unique donors give to the Athletics Core Annual Fund during the campaign period, an additional $250,000 will be unlocked.
• Gifts of all sizes count toward the unlocking challenge. Each donor is counted once.
• Only new gifts made during the campaign period qualify.
• Pledges, pledge payments, or recurring gift payments already in progress are not eligible for the match.
• Donor-advised fund and matching gift claims through employers may be applied, once received.
• Matching funds are provided by the Big Red Champions Council.
• Cornell University reserves the right to interpret, modify, or terminate the challenge if necessary.
• All gifts are tax-deductible.