Championship-caliber giving puts ‘CSU Gives’ fundraising campaign 250% over goal

April 10, 2026

Columbus State University was barely into its annual CSU Gives 24-hour online giving campaign on Monday, April 6, when donors surpassed its 250-donor goal. Twelve hours later, the campaign surpassed 500 donors.

By its official close on Tuesday, April 7, 894 donors had given—more than 250% of the campaign’s original goal. Although campaign planners did not set a dollar goal, donors contributed $84,407 to support the university. Campaign donors represented seven countries and 34 U.S. states: Georgia accounted for more than 70% of all donors who made a gift, followed by Alabama, with 87 donors.

“Our alumni and friends stepped up in an incredible way,” said Karen McCauley, CFRE, Columbus State’s chief advancement officer. “From scholarships and support for our academic programs to athletics and the campus experiences that make Columbus State University a special place to study and succeed, our donors are the true champions of our CSU Gives annual giving campaign.”

The annual campaign allows alumni and philanthropic friends of the university to support any area of the university of their choice. Collectively, the Athletics Department, its 13 NCAA Division II sports teams, and its competitive cheerleading program were the most popular campus beneficiary—followed by the CSU Fund and the D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology. The CSU Fund provides President Stuart Rayfield and other executive leaders with resources to capitalize on strategic opportunities or address urgent needs that benefit students.

This year’s campaign benefited from more than 365 volunteer advocates—alumni, friends, CSU students and campus leaders—who used email, text, social media and other channels to champion giving to the university. CSU Gives’ top two advocates were both CSU student-athletes: Bryant Vail, a member of the Men’s Golf Team, and Nathariya Phimsoutham, a member of the Women’s Golf Team. Vail, a sophomore from Acworth, Georgia, majoring in marketing, raised $3,089 through 19 gifts. Phimsoutham of McDonough, Georgia, a sophomore majoring in criminal justice, raised $1,987 with 34 gifts.

This year’s CSU Gives campaign featured competitive online “power hours” and matching gift challenges to encourage alumni to donate to their former colleges and programs. At its conclusion, the university celebrated the campaign’s success with Cody the Cougar’s post-campaign birthday party, honoring his 56th birthday.

Alumni and other charitable supporters can donate to the university at any time through its online giving site, while designating their gift to benefit any area they choose.

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Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR