NAU Giving Day 2026

NAU Giving Day is a 24-hour celebration of the power of collective generosity—and the incredible impact it has on our students, campus, and communities.

Each year, thousands of Lumberjacks—alumni, students, faculty, staff, families, and friends—come together to fuel opportunity, advance excellence, and open doors for future generations. From scholarships and academic programs to student clubs, athletics, and the arts, your support on Giving Day helps provide the experiences that define NAU.

Giving Day is an ambitious effort to make higher education more accessible, inclusive, and impactful.

Every gift, no matter the size, helps students chart their own path and empowers NAU to rise to the challenges of today—and tomorrow.

Join us on May 1 to be part of something bigger. Because together, we ELEVATE NAU. And—we are Lumberjacks!

The Lumberjack spirit seed sprouted in 1899, when a teachers’ college opened in the mountain town of Flagstaff, Arizona. Officially Northern Arizona University as of 1966, more than 20,000 Lumberjacks now attend the flagship campus each year, but NAU’s reach extends outside Flagstaff to every corner of Arizona and beyond. Lumberjacks are now found among the saguaro in Phoenix, the date palm trees in Yuma, and coffee shops around the globe, thanks to the 20+ statewide locations and NAU online.

With more than 160,000 alumni worldwide, Lumberjack Country is anywhere that the True Blue and Gold spirit shines bright.

So, whether you’re in Flagstaff or Fiji, Prescott or Paris, Denver or D.C., YOU are in Lumberjack Country. Share your pride and swing your Axe of Kindness this NAU Giving Day to show that this is Lumberjack Country!

This is not Lumberjack Country’s first rodeo. Starting in spring 2019, these past seven years of NAU Giving Day have been nothing short of remarkable:

    - Seven years of an explosion of Lumberjack pride on social media—check out #NAUGivingDay

    - Seven years of friendly (but fierce) competition—which college will win the most challenges?   

    - Seven years of fashionable footwear—wait until you see this year’s Giving Day socks!

    - Seven years of ELEVATING excellence at NAU!

And, of course, seven years of incredible Axe of Kindness: over $3.7 million that went directly to supporting hundreds of causes across the university: scholarships, Cline Library, emergency aid for students, research funding, study abroad support, and SO much more!

Challenges are special opportunities created by generous donors to inspire others to give and help ELEVATE NAU. These donors are passionate about NAU and want to multiply their impact by encouraging broader participation—especially on Giving Day.

Here’s how it works: When a challenge reaches its goal—such as 50 alumni making a gift—a larger donation (like $2,500) is unlocked and added to the total. That means your gift, no matter the size, helps unlock even more support for the programs you care about.

Challenges often benefit specific colleges, departments, or student programs, creating a spirited sense of competition and community across campus.

On NAU Giving Day, every donor counts. When we come together, we don’t just reach goals—we ELEVATE what’s possible.

On May 1, your gift does more than support NAU—it helps ELEVATE it.

Thanks to generous challenge funds from dedicated supporters, your Giving Day contribution has the power to go further and do more. When you give to the areas and causes you care about most, you’re helping unlock additional resources and fueling real-time momentum through leaderboards and challenges.

Your support on Giving Day opens doors for students, drives innovation, and strengthens our community. It’s not just a gift—it’s an investment in turning obstacles into opportunity and purpose into progress. Together, we’ll ELEVATE NAU.

Your gift to the Northern Arizona University Foundation goes exactly where you want it to—whether that’s a college, school, department, scholarship, student organization, or impact fund that matters most to you.

You can even support multiple areas by designating how much you’d like to give to each—just note your preferences on the gift form.

Every dollar you give ELEVATES NAU and helps turn educational opportunity into lasting impact for our students, our university, and our communities.

At Northern Arizona University, we believe education should be a powerful force for opportunity—and that belief drives everything we do. But the reality is, state funding, tuition, and fees no longer cover the full cost of delivering a high-quality, accessible university education.

Arizona ranks among the lowest in the nation for per-capita investment in higher education. That’s why private support is more essential than ever.

Donations to NAU help bridge the gap—fueling scholarships that reduce student debt, funding life-changing programs like Access2Excellence (which provides free tuition for Arizona students with household incomes under $65,000 and all members of federally recognized tribes), and enabling innovation across academics, research, and student life.

Your generosity empowers students to rise above obstacles, pursue their potential, and thrive in a changing world. It also helps NAU recruit and retain exceptional faculty and expand hands-on learning that prepares graduates for real-world success.

Together, through philanthropy, we don’t just sustain NAU—we ELEVATE it.

It makes a bigger difference than you think.

When combined with thousands of others, a $5 gift becomes part of something powerful—momentum that fuels scholarships, supports student services, and meets urgent campus needs in real time.

These current-use gifts are critical. They help NAU respond quickly, support students directly, and collectively fill funding gaps.

Every dollar is a vote of confidence in NAU’s mission. Every gift helps ELEVATE the student experience.

Because impact isn’t about the size of your gift—it’s about being part of something greater.

Champions are the heart of NAU Giving Day—passionate, driven, and ready to make a difference.

NAU Giving Day Champions are Lumberjacks who go above and beyond to inspire others. They rally their networks, amplify the message, and help unlock opportunities for students through the power of collective generosity.

When you sign up as a Champion, you’ll receive a personal giving link to share with friends, family, classmates, and colleagues. You’ll be able to track how many gifts you inspire—and see the real impact of your outreach.

Whether you're competitive, connected, or just deeply proud of NAU, this is your chance to be part of something BIG.

Be a Champion and help ELEVATE NAU.

Click HERE to sign up today!

Your voice, time, and Lumberjack pride are powerful ways to make an impact.

Even if you're not able to give financially, you can help ELEVATE NAU by:

- Spreading the word. Share your NAU story on social media using #NAUGivingDay to inspire others to give or get involved.

- Creating Axe of Kindness. Pay it forward in your community with a kind act that reflects the spirit of NAU.

- Volunteering your time. Whether near campus or across the globe, you can help others feel connected to NAU. Volunteering is a meaningful way to give back and lead.

Every action—whether it’s sharing a post, mentoring a student, or giving your time—helps NAU deliver on its mission to drive positive change in Arizona and beyond.

Learn more about how to get involved through the NAU Center for Service and Volunteerism website.

Your voice is one of the most powerful tools to help ELEVATE NAU.

Share your Lumberjack pride on social media using #NAUGivingDay and encourage others to join the movement. Every post, story, and conversation helps build awareness and excitement.

Talk to your friends, family, classmates, coworkers—anyone who believes in the power of education and the NAU experience. Personal outreach makes a huge difference.

Want to take your impact even further? Become an official Giving Day Champion by signing up online. You’ll get a unique link to share, tools to help you promote Giving Day, and the ability to track the gifts you inspire.

Together, we can make this the biggest and boldest NAU Giving Day yet!

Once we receive your gift, you will receive a receipt verifying that your gift has been deposited into the account you have specified. For further guidance on tax matters, please consult your tax adviser.

Yes! When making your gift, click "Do not display my name on the Donor Wall." under the Donor Wall Settings.

Giving as an NAU employee is simple and secure through Payroll Deduction. Log in to manage or update your giving preferences—from one-time gifts to ongoing gifts deducted from each paycheck.

We are grateful to the many members of our faculty and staff community who share their time and talents as employees, and also give to support their passions at NAU. As employees, you know firsthand the power of philanthropy at NAU. From student scholarships to KNAU programming, the Employee Lumberjack Fund (ELF) to NAU Athletics—philanthropy ensures the university is able to ELEVATE excellence that makes us all proud.

Manage your payroll deduction giving online.

We're giving away an NAU Homecoming experience of a lifetime for one lucky Lumberjack! To learn more about how you can win, click HERE to see all the details, including the official rules and eligibility.

On Giving Day, your generosity makes a direct impact on NAU and its students. Here’s how you can enhance your giving experience and support our mission even further:

Access to the Giving Day Donor Appreciation Shop:

Donors who contribute between $75 and $125 will receive an invitation to the Giving Day Donor Appreciation Shop. There you can choose from a variety of NAU-themed gifts as a heartfelt thank you for your support.

Exclusive Access to Limited-Edition NAU Giving Day Sock Designs: Donors who contribute $125 or more will unlock exclusive access to one pair of limited-edition NAU Giving Day sock designs. Choose your favorite design and proudly display your Lumberjack spirit.

After Giving Day, as we tally giving, each donor will receive an invitation to select one appreciation gift based on their giving total. You'll also have the option to opt out of receiving a gift. We deeply appreciate your Axe of Kindness!