About 5.12

At a time of unprecedented change, job loss, and uncertainty, there is one thing that is undeniable: Wabash Always Fights... together!

That's why we've established "Giants Helping Little Giants," a Student Response Fund that will help our students who are facing temporary hardship related to COVID-19. When you support this fund, you are helping Wabash students stay enrolled and involved during this critical time so that they can graduate and join our #1-ranked alumni network.

Gifts to our Student Response Fund provide resources for students who are struggling with financial aid, employment, housing, meals, transportation and other critical needs. This is a very real need and we know the Wabash nation will rally around our young men.

Throughout our history, our College community has paid it forward for future generations of Wabash men. The future is now and our students' need is great. Let's rally around them – together!

The 5.12 Day of Giving is primarily an online campaign (wabash.edu/512). However, the College will count gifts received via postal mail before or after the day with a note 5.12, Day of Giving, or "Wabash Together." The College will also count gifts that donors pledge to make through Donor Advised Funds or via appreciated securities.

Alumni and friends can let the College know they are pledging to make these gifts by sending an email to 512@wabash.edu or by calling 877-743-4545 on or in advance of 5.12. These gifts will be included in the totals on the day, but individual donor names may not appear on the real-time list of donors until after the gift has been received.

Our alumni and current student body have joined together today to issue a challenge and put their dollars on the line for each decade. Visit our Inside the Numbers page at www.wabash.edu/512/numbers for leaderboards including the decade to decade challenge, sports, classes, living units, and more.

Gifts on 5.12 will be allocated to the Annual Fund unless otherwise noted in the comments section on the giving form. Gifts using Athletics Affinity Codes will be allocated to the Directors Fund unless otherwise noted.

Yes, many companies offer programs that will match contributions to Wabash. Your 5.12 donation to the Annual Fund will meet most matching requirements and can double your impact on Wabash students. Companies will often match gifts by spouses, parents, retirees, or partners. Contact your human resources office or visit www.wabash.edu/matching to find out if your employer has a matching gift program.

The 2020 CARES Act creates a temporary universal charitable deduction for non-itemizers, for cash gifts to non-profit organizations including Wabash College. Donors who take the standard deduction on their federal income taxes will be entitled to an "above the line" additional deduction not to exceed $300. This provision excludes gifts made into donor-advised funds.

An affinity challenge is a pledge made by an individual or group that "challenges" others with whom they are associated to make a gift on 5.12. If the challenge terms are met, they will give an additional gift. For example:

Bob Donor was a member of the Comic Book Club while at Wabash back in the 1970s. Because he is so fond of his memories of reading the X-Men with his peers and believes others will agree, Bob Donor will give $1,000 when 100 gifts are made on 5.12 using the code #ComicBooks.

Affinity challenges can represent any group of the Wabash community. You can lead one for a class, living unit/fraternity, a group of spouses or partners, metropolitan area, field of study, sports team, student club, scholarship fund, memorial fund, in honor of a professor/coach/student, the list goes on and on.

Complete the fields on the online form at wabash.edu/512/addchallenges. After completing the form, we will review the details and will contact you about its approval. Your affinity challenge code will then appear on the giving form drop-down menus. Throughout 5.12, spread the word via your social media contacts, email, and by phone, and let everyone you know that your challenge is on!

Affinity Challenges that request gifts be allocated to a restricted designation (non-Annual Fund) will be part of a review process by either the Dean for College Advancement, the Dean of the College, or the Director of Athletics. It is recommended these are submitted as soon as possible for review and approval.

Send us an email at 512@wabash.edu and tell us who you would like to contact. We'll send you a list of your classmates, teammates, and other Wabash connections to reach out to and help promote the 5.12 Day of Giving.

The 5.12 Day of Giving is a great way to demonstrate your Wabash pride and your belief in our time-honored mission. If you have given this year, thank you! Making another gift on 5.12 will count towards the gifts made on the day and will help the College receive $490,000 from a group of challenge donors.