Ambassador Toolkit

Founders’ Day Challenge is an annual competition that raises funds to support the mission of Lambda Chi Alpha and celebrate the founding of our Brotherhood.

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Ambassadors support the Founders’ Day Challenge by encouraging Brothers to donate – you can join your Chapter team and create a fundraiser page to help spread the word.

Join a Chapter Team

Ambassadors create fundraiser pages, inviting others to donate as part of a Chapter Team or on their own. Watch this video for help joining a Chapter Team and creating a fundraiser page.

 

What is the Founders’ Day Challenge?

Founders’ Day Challenge is an annual fundraising campaign, held over November 2, to support Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation and celebrate our brotherhood.

Every dollar raised supports our brothers by providing access to educational conferences, programs, scholarships, chapter support, and tools to succeed in college and beyond.

Chapter teams will compete throughout the campaign based on both total dollars raised and number of donors. The top three chapters in participation (donors) and impact (dollars) will receive special recognition and awards.

Founders’ Day Challenge occurs annually with a giving deadline of November 2, the founding day of the Fraternity.

What makes it a challenge?

Chapter teams will compete throughout the campaign based on both total dollars raised and number of donors in three (3) separate divisions:

  • Purple Division: Chapters that are dormant or inactive
  • Green Division: Chapters with 59 or fewer active undergraduates
  • Gold Division: Chapters with 60 or more active undergraduates

Rules of the Founders’ Day Challenge:

  1. There will be eighteen (18) overall winners across three (3) divisions, with each division awarding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for highest participation (# of donors giving) and greatest impact (# of dollars raised).
  2. Chapters that achieve 100% undergraduate participation in the Mason’s Circle Challenge will also be recognized as chapter winners.
  3. The challenge ends at 11:50 p.m. PT on November 2.
  4. Donors must give a minimum of $5 to be counted and may only be credited for a chapter once.
What are the prizes for winners?

1st Place – Two Winners – Most Donors | Most Dollars:

  • Founders’ Day Challenge Cup Trophy
  • Recognized in the Cross & Crescent and on official Lambda Chi Alpha social media channels
  • Recognized during High Alpha Summit

2nd Place – Two Winners – Most Donors | Most Dollars:

  • Recognized in the Cross & Crescent and on official Lambda Chi Alpha channels
  • Recognized during High Alpha Summit

3rd Place – Two Winners – Most Donors | Most Dollars:

  • Recognized in the Cross & Crescent and on official Lambda Chi Alpha channels
  • Recognized during High Alpha Summit

Mason’s Circle Challenge (Chapters with 100% Undergraduate Members Giving $19.09 or more):

  • Founders’ Day Challenge Mason’s Circle Trophy
  • Recognized in the Cross & Crescent and on official Lambda Chi Alpha channels
  • Recognized during High Alpha Summit
Is my gift tax deductible? Will I receive a receipt?

Yes! Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and all gifts received are tax-deductible.

You will receive an email confirmation receipt almost immediately after giving online.

All donors, whether they give online or through another method, will receive a mailed thank you letter and receipt once the challenge concludes.

Please retain any email or mailed receipts for tax purposes.

Do I have to give online?

Not at all! You can give via check, IRA, donor advised fund, stock, crypto, etc.

Let us know by emailing our team at foundation@lambdachi.org and we will add your gift to the tally!

Donors should make checks payable to Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation, indicating in the memo line your gift is for the Founders’ Day Challenge.

Gifts must arrive by November 1.

Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation
Attn: Founders’ Day Challenge
10 W Carmel Drive, Suite 220
Carmel, IN 46032

Please contact one of our team members for questions or to give by phone.

Can my company match my donation?

Many companies will match charitable giving for both current and retired employees. Your impact could be doubled or even tripled with corporate gift matching.

Learn more by searching our database of companies with matching gift programs.

When submitting a matching gift through your company’s portal you may need the following information:

Federal Tax ID Number (EIN): 13-6266432

Address: Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation, Inc., 10 W. Carmel Drive, Suite 220, Carmel, IN 46032

Contact Information:  Shelby Parr | (317) 872-8000 Ext. 1214 | sparr@lambdachi.org

Edit Your Fundraiser Page

You’ve signed up to be an Ambassador and created your Fundraiser page – now what?

Watch this video to learn more about how to edit and customize your fundraiser page.

Fundraising Tips

Founders’ Day Challenge is all about reconnecting with Brothers.

Hear from Nathan Gray (Butler) and Trevor Nicholas (South Dakota Mines) on how to succeed as an Ambassador for the Founders’ Day Challenge.

Historical Results

Past Winners

View the previous Founders’ Day Challenge winners and see the historical results of this annual giving event.

Receive Updates

Join our Facebook Group

Get insider announcements about the Founders’ Day Challenge launch and keep up with all the leaderboard updates and stories shared on the day of the event!

Donor Stories

Why I Give

“I took an oath to support my Brothers, and giving to the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation fulfills that promise. My contribution helps programs that uplift Undergraduates and Alumni alike.”

Volunteer
Mike Brady, Eastern Michigan ‘91
Grand High Phi; High Pi, Colorado Boulder (Gamma-Mu)

Giving back has been important to John since he was a young child. John remembers his mother volunteering to raise donations for Red Cross, saying, “that kind of thing affected me my entire life. We have a responsibility to help others.” John’s dedication has shaped countless lives and will continue inspiring future Lambda Chi’s thanks to his gift.

John Schmitt, Eastern Illinois ‘76
Order of Merit Recipient; Past Founders’ Day Chair; Phi-Alpha Zeta Founding Member

Giving back to Lambda Chi Alpha became Chuck’s vehicle for serving others. Through his work on the Educational Foundation board, Chuck grew to appreciate the fraternity’s ever-growing message focused on bettering one’s communities. He hopes his legacy inspires others to lead lives of service for centuries to come.

Chuck Jones, Sam Houston State ‘81
Past Foundation Board Member; Foundation Ambassador

I support the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation because I believe in the transformative power of education and Brotherhood. As a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, I experienced firsthand the lasting impact that this organization has on personal growth, leadership development, and lifelong friendships. By contributing to the Foundation, I am investing in the future of young men who will carry forward the values of our fraternity—integrity, loyalty, and service to others.

Jeff Craig
Jeff Craig, Ball State '98
Foundation Team – Leadership Annual Giving Officer

“I joined the Mason Circle to uphold the beliefs every Lambda Chi should embrace. The belief in encouraging our actives and alumni to support our greater mission of developing better men. The story of the Bridge Builder reminds us of the vital moral lesson of paying it forward to the brothers who come after us and beyond. To truly embody our ideals, we must support one another, and I believe the Educational Foundation plays a crucial role in that effort.”

Jesse James Gutierrez, Texas San Antonio ‘25
High Alpha, Texas San Antonio (Phi-Upsilon)

Brother Nicholas A. Damiano is a proud volunteer with the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation and is the 2025 Founders’ Day Challenge Chairman. His passion for our mission stems from generations of Brothers creating opportunities for him. His late uncle, Brother J.P. Ottino III, taught him that, no matter what in life, to pay it forward. In 2024, he established the Nicholas A. Damiano Conference Accessibility Scholarship.

Nicholas A. Damiano, Rollins College ‘16
2025 Founders' Day Chair; Greek Advisor, Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach (Sigma-Phi)
Join the 5th annual Founders' Day Challenge!
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