Day of Giving Chapter Challenge Raised $330,000 for Scholarships and Leadership Programs
Phi Delta Theta brothers showed up in a big way this June! More than 1,300 Phis from 177 chapters stepped up during the Day of Giving Chapter Challenge, helping raise over $330,000—and counting. That’s not just a strong number—it says something about what this brotherhood is willing to do when it matters.
For those who gave, it was an investment in the experience undergraduate Phis are having right now—and the kind of experience we want them to have going forward.
As Phi Delta Theta Foundation Senior Vice President Andrew Cole shared, “When Phi Delts step up like this, it’s not just about hitting a number. It’s about creating real opportunities for students. Every gift represents someone choosing to invest in the next generation of our Fraternity—to transmit our Fraternity greater.”
And that impact is real.
Last year, the Foundation funded $2 million in scholarships, leadership programs, and educational support for the first time in our history. That meant more students able to stay in school, more access to leadership experiences like the Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute and the McKenzie Family Presidents Leadership Conference, and stronger chapters because of it.
This year’s momentum continues to push that work forward by supporting an undergraduate experience that is not only growing, but improving. We’re seeing the strongest scholarship applicants we’ve ever had, and more students engaging in meaningful leadership development. The goal is to build on that and, by 2030, sustain this level of support annually while reaching 2,500 Phis in person each year through our world-class leadership education programs.
That only happens when alumni stay involved.
The Chapter Challenge brings that idea to life in a new way. Chapters are grouped by the size of their living alumni base and compete based on both dollars raised and participation—creating space for every chapter, no matter its size, to step up and lead. And many did.
We’re excited to announce the winners of this year’s chapter challenge, who will receive an additional $2,000 in chapter leadership funds for educational expenses in 2026.
Alpha Division: Most Dollars Raised-Oklahoma Beta*; Highest Participation-Michigan Delta*
Beta Division: Most Dollars Raised-Ohio Theta; Highest Participation-Kentucky Eta*
Gamma Division: Most Dollars Raised-Pennsylvania Mu; Highest Participation-California Sigma*
Delta Division: Most Dollars Raised-Illinois Gamma; Highest Participation-Virginia Lambda*
Blitz Challenge winners: Texas Delta1, Arkansas Alpha2, Texas Epsilon, Oklahoma Epsilon3
Captains Challenge winners: Minnesota Beta4, Missouri Beta, Georgia Gamma, California Zeta5
* To ensure the funding is spread across Phi Delt Nation, each chapter is only eligible to receive 1 prize throughout the day.
1Texas Delta led the Alpha Division in Dollars raised and Highest Participation.
2Arkansas Alpha was second in the Alpha Division for Dollars Raised.
3Oklahoma Epsilon led the Delta Division in Highest Participation.
4Minnesota Beta led the Gamma Division in Highest Participation.
5California Zeta led the Beta Division in Highest Participation.
Congratulations to all of our winners!
For those who gave this year, there’s something to be proud of in all of this. You helped move this forward in a real way. You helped create opportunities for students you may never meet, but who will benefit directly from what you made possible.
At the same time, there are still many Phis who weren’t part of this.
Not because they don’t care, but because they haven’t been pulled into it yet.
And as strong as this year was, what comes next depends on whether more of us decide to step in. If we’re serious about sustaining $2 million in annual support, expanding leadership programs, and continuing to meet the moment for today’s undergraduates, it’s going to take broader participation across Phi Delt Nation.
That’s really what this challenge made clear: the opportunity is there, and it’s ours to build on.
Because in the end, this isn’t about one day or one total. It’s about whether we’re willing to invest in the experience that shaped us, and make sure it’s even stronger for the ones coming after us.
And based on what we saw this year, Phi Delta Theta is more than capable of doing just that.
