On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Barnard community went all in for Giving Day 2026, raising more than $2.1 million for the Barnard Fund in 24 hours and ensuring that future generations of students can access a well-rounded, high-quality Barnard education and the resources to help them thrive.
This year’s theme, “All In for Barnard,” honored the role every member of the community plays in carrying Barnard’s legacy forward. And the community answered the call. Alumnae, families, faculty, staff, and students fueled the spirit and success of the day by contributing more than 1,500 gifts (up from 1,180 in 2025), rallying their classmates, hosting regional gatherings, and, on campus, taking part in Giving Day festivities throughout the afternoon.
Each year on Giving Day, Barnard joins schools and programs within Columbia University in a friendly competition to raise critical support and show pride. All Giving Day gifts benefit the Barnard Fund, the College’s most critical source of flexible support.
On Futter Field, students wrote dozens of thank-you notes at a gratitude station, and for the first time ever, there was a Giving Day pep rally in the late afternoon that brought together students, alumnae, faculty, staff, and Millie Bear herself to cheer on Barnard.
“Giving Day is when that ambition, competitiveness and passion that is part of Barnard DNA really shines through,” Hillary Strong, Vice President for Advancement, said in her remarks, noting that Barnard had a streak to maintain in the friendly fundraising competition between Barnard and Columbia’s schools and programs.
And while that competitive spirit once again carried Barnard to the top of the leaderboards – receiving the most gifts of any academic institution and coming in second overall only to Columbia Athletics – Giving Day also brought a chance to celebrate the impact of the community’s generosity.
“I like to think of it like a bow and arrow,” Rosie Isiyel ’29 said, speaking at an evening reception for alumnae and staff in Barnard Hall (See Rosie in the 2026 Giving Day video). “The arrow is our talents, ambitions, and hopes for the future. But even the strongest arrows need a bow to reach their destination. Your generosity allows students like myself to not only attend Barnard but to make the most out of everything it has to offer.”
This year, supporters could direct their gifts to seven designations within the Barnard Fund: Student Scholarships, the Senior Fund, Women in Leadership, the Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Where Barnard Needs It Most, and Campus Renewal. More than one-third of Barnard students receive financial aid, and gifts to the Barnard Fund play an important role in keeping a Barnard education within reach for every student regardless of their financial circumstances.
Hourly and community challenges issued by generous alumnae, parents, and the Barnard Board of Trustees drove participation throughout the day. Among them, Janet Helman ’56 offered a total of $50,000 in matching challenges for new donors and young alumnae.
“My time at Barnard was so meaningful to me and the opportunity to give to the College during my lifetime has allowed me to see the impact of my contribution,” Helman said. “As a recent graduate, you can make a difference!”
“We are beyond grateful to everyone who helped make Giving Day 2026 a success,” Strong said. “This 24-hour celebration is a testament to the impact we can make when we come together for Barnard students and the generations of Barnard women still to come.”
Giving Day Highlights and Results:
- Barnard came in second among all schools and programs in total overall gifts, which unlocked another $7,500 in challenge funds.
- The top designations among Barnard donors were Where Barnard Needs It Most (746 gifts) followed by Student Scholarships (314).
- Barnard’s Board of Trustees committed over $200,000, which was unlocked once the gifts reached $1 million in the afternoon.
- The Class of 1969 led with the most donations (49), followed by the Class of 1996 (40) and the Class of 1984 (38).
- Current students contributed over $15,000 in gifts.
- While offline and mailed-in gifts will continue to be counted in the days ahead, Barnard’s total stands at $2.1 million from 1,537 gifts.