Your impact: Dam Proud Day 2026

12,400+ gifts. One Dam Proud, record-breaking community. Thank you!

Maxwell Hammond with friends.

“Dam Proud Day gives students the chance not just to raise money and awareness about the clubs and organizations they love but to develop professional skills and try new things. We are so grateful to our donors who understand that as students we’re still learning about the world, and you are helping us succeed.”

Maxwell Hammond, ’27
Maxwell is pictured with Bobae Kim, ’26, and RyLee Demianew, ’27

After reading about all the amazing clubs and programs, I was inspired to donate to other groups because they do so much good for the students and the community. My favorite now (to my surprise) is the Orange Airsoft club. Reading their story, and seeing the student who donated and said he’s made so many friends, got to me. In a world that is barreling our kids into isolation and loneliness, anything that helps people connect in a healthy way cries out to be supported.

OSU parent, Diane Ben-David

Giving at a glance

This year 8,350+ generous donors made 12,400+ gifts to over 250 funds and raised over $4.1 million!

Number of first-time donors

Number of 5+ year donors

Pie chart percentages of individual donors.

Individual donors

Thank you, Dam Proud Day leaders!

Participation by student clubs increased to 70+ clubs – a leap of 40% – and the community responded with 2,500 gifts totaling over $105,000, nearly doubling both the number of gifts and the dollars directed to student-led causes in 2025.
Challenge gift donors made 250 challenges totaling over $2 million that incentivized our community to give.
300 Ambassadors helped inspire over 2,350 gifts, together raising over $207,000.
10 student teams participated in campus scavenger hunts, which led them to resources including the Basic Needs Center.
100 runners participated in a 5K benefiting the College of Forestry.
This year’s Dam Proud Day Live broadcast streamed through the Pac-12 network for the first time, multiplying viewership exponentially: over 12,700 views on the day!
Watch highlights at https://www.damproudday.org/live_stats.

Booth run by students.

Challenge Prize Winners

Thank you to sponsors of the Trustees Chair Challenge, each of whom made a gift of $25,000 in support of Dam Proud Day: OSU Foundation board chair Dave Underriner, ’81, and Barbara Underriner; past board chairs Penny Atkins, ’79, and Gary Atkins; Ruth Beyer, ’77; Eric Schoenstein, ’88, and Kelly Douglas; John Stirek, ’82, and Kate Stirek, ’83; Patrick Stone, ’74, and Vicki Stone; Tom Toomey, ’82; and incoming board chair Patty Bedient, ’75, and Ron Bedient.  

Students holding a SketchBot illustration.

Fund with the most dollars raised ($25,000): Finish in Four

College or campus with the most gifts ($20,000): College of Agricultural Sciences
College or campus with the second-most gifts ($7,500): College of Engineering

University program with the most gifts ($20,000): Student Affairs
University program with the second-most gifts ($7,500): Extension & Engagement

Athletics team with the most gifts ($20,000): Women’s Rowing
Athletics team with the second-most gifts ($7,500): Wrestling

Most New Donors Challenge ($10,000): Football Fund for Excellence

Most Improved Donors Challenge ($10,000): Anderson-Moriarty Black Student Access and Success Fund

Most Improved Dollars Challenge ($10,000): OSU-Cascades General Scholarship Fund

New to Dam Proud Day project with the most gifts ($5,000): Food Science and Technology Enhancement Fund

10 for 10 challenge
(most gifts in two- or three-hour time blocks, $2,000 per block)
Women’s Rowing: nine blocks
Student Affairs: one block

10 for 10 challenge for student clubs
(most gifts in two- or three-hour time blocks, $250 per block)
Competitive Bowling Team: three blocks
American Nuclear Society/Health Physics Society
Chemical, Biological, Environmental Engineering Club
Detachment 685 Cadet Association
Japanese Student Association
Ocean11 Marine Club
Power Chord
Women in Cybersecurity

Student clubs, most dollars raised

$3,000 first place: Global Formula Racing (Society of Automotive Engineers)
$2,700 second place: Competitive Bowling Team
$2,250 third place: Detachment 685 Cadet Association
$1,800 fourth place: Institute of Transportation Engineers
$1,500 fifth place: Beaver Racing (Society of Automotive Engineers)
$1,050 sixth place: Power Chord
$900 seventh place: Oregon State Human Powered Submarine
$750 eighth place: Orange and Black Film Club
$600 ninth place: Ocean11 Marine Club
$450 tenth place: High Altitude Liquid Engine Rocketry Team

Student clubs, most gifts

$3,000 first place: Detachment 685 Cadet Association
$2,700 second place: Power Chord
$2,250 third place: Competitive Bowling Team
$1,800 fourth place: Japanese Student Association
$1,500 fifth place: Silver Talons Drill Team
$1,050 sixth place: Engineers Without Borders
$900 seventh place: Institute of Transportation Engineers
$750 eighth place: Ocean11 Marine Club
$600 ninth place: Chemical, Biological Environmental Engineering Student Club
$450 tenth place: High Altitude Liquid Engine Rocketry Team