EVANSTON, IL (December 2, 2021) — Breaking organizational giving records in support of their respective annual campaigns, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation and Sigma Chi Foundation combined to raise more than $105,000 during their inaugural Giving Tuesday Challenge.

The 12-hour competitive fundraiser through the CrowdChange platform marked a first for both organizations, as Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Chi alumni and friends made charitable gifts in an effort to deliver more support than their interfraternal rival in their respective Giving Tuesday efforts.

“This inaugural Giving Tuesday Challenge truly shows the power of collaboration. Fundraising is a team sport, and I’m extremely proud of how both organizations worked together to ultimately support our respective Brothers,” said Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation President & CEO, Steve Mitchell (Indiana ’83).

“Not only did we deliver a competitive fundraising atmosphere to cultivate alumni support, we each set Giving Tuesday benchmarks and hopefully showed other Greek-letter foundations that we can work together to directly benefit our members,” said Sigma Chi Foundation President & CEO Ashley Woods (East Tennessee ’00).

The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation surged ahead in the closing hours and raised $63,582 from 163 members and friends. The donations will go towards Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Annual Loyalty Fund, which supports its educational programs, events, scholarships, awards and the Levere Memorial Temple.

One block south on Hinman Avenue, the Sigma Chi Foundation received the support of 146 brothers and friends towards a $42,030 effort for its Life Loyal Sig Annual Fund which benefits Sigma Chi’s Transformational Leader platform, scholarships, historical initiative and operations from the J. Dwight Peterson International Fraternity Headquarters.

For the Sigma Chi Foundation, Tuesday’s online campaign produced the largest Giving Tuesday performance in organizational history, more than tripling its prior benchmark and measuring fourfold against its 2020 mark. It was also the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation’s most successful Giving Tuesday, quadrupling its previous record.

Added Woods: “We hope the shared positive results of this effort encourages other Greek-letter Foundations to join the Giving Tuesday Challenge next year, creating friendly competition amongst our respective alumni and friends while championing, and bringing awareness to, the positive efforts we provide our young members.”