Ripon College Rally Days 2025 exceeds goal

Ripon College surpassed its goal of achieving 1,000 gifts during the eighth annual spring giving event, Rally Days 2025, from April 2-4, with more than eight hours left of the event.

At the end of Rally Days, the College received 1,091 gifts and raised $506,534.20.

The theme this year was “Impact History.” Every contribution moved the Forever Ripon Campaign beyond its record-breaking and historic success, further enhancing campus engagement efforts that benefit the College.

Donor designations included: student life, scholarships, faculty and instruction, fine arts, athletics and greatest needs.

New this year, Ripon College President Victoria N. Folse presented the Folse Fund Challenge, where one donor was randomly selected to direct President Folse’s $1,000 gift to an area of campus of their choosing. The winner, Karen Hanadel Edmonson ’08, selected the biology department to receive the donation.

Several giving challenges, meant to help energize Rally Days, were created to engage the College community. Notable challenges included trustee Blaine Gibson ’81 who donated $10,000 when 100 donors made a gift to scholarships, and trustee Liz Pecha-Poelker ’78 who donated $10,000 when 100 donors made a gift to faculty and instruction.

“Rally Days offers an invitation to supporters to help fundraise for strategic initiatives at Ripon College,” Folse said. “In addition to the generous contributions we receive, it’s fulfilling to see how the event brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends to honor and celebrate the College each year.”

On-campus activities – including alumni engagement events, student thank-you card signing stations, a T-shirt giveaway, Senior Class Gift initiatives and Ripon College’s Alumni Board meetings – helped support fundraising efforts