Frequently Asked Questions

Founders’ Day Challenge is an annual fundraising campaign, held on November 2-3, 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 for a period of 1,909 minutes beginning on November 2, the founding day of the fraternity.

Each dollar raised through the Founders’ Day Challenge is invested in the Fraternity through the We Believe Fund, which supports current and future member development programs established by the Fraternity, as well as academic and leadership scholarships, disaster relief grants, chapter operational support teams, and more.

By making a gift to the Founders’ Day Challenge you will:

• Expand Lambda Chi Alpha’s reach and provide opportunities to grow more young men into leaders
• Promote thought leadership through content-rich partnerships that inspire and develop our members
• Enable men of all backgrounds to enjoy the lifechanging experience of Lambda Chi without financial barriers

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

• Cross Division: 60 or more active undergraduate members
• Crescent Division: 59 or fewer active undergraduate members (inactive chapters will compete here)

Rules of the Founders’ Day Challenge:

1. There will be twelve (12) overall winners among two divisions, with each division awarding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for 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 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 3.
4. Donors must give a minimum of $5 to be counted and may only be credited for a chapter once.

Awards for the Challenge Winners (Participation & Impact):

1st Place:

• Founders’ Day Challenge Cup Trophy
• Leadership Skills Certification Academy training for 3 additional chapter members
• Recognized in the Cross & Crescent and on official Lambda Chi Alpha channels
• Recognized during 2023 High Alpha Summit and Stead Leadership Seminar

2nd Place:

• Leadership Skills Certification Academy training for 2 additional chapter members
• Recognized in the Cross & Crescent and on official Lambda Chi Alpha channels
• Recognized during 2023 High Alpha Summit and Stead Leadership Seminar

3rd Place:

• Leadership Skills Certification Academy training for 1 additional chapter member
• Recognized in the Cross & Crescent and on official Lambda Chi Alpha channels
• Recognized during 2023 High Alpha Summit and Stead Leadership Seminar

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

• Lambda Chi Alpha Branded Canopy Tent to Use for Outdoor Events
• Lambda Chi Alpha Flag
• Recognized in the Cross & Crescent and on official Lambda Chi Alpha channels
• Recognized during 2023 High Alpha Summit and Stead Leadership Seminar

Who will win the 2022 Founders' Day Challenge? View the Leaderboard here.

1,909 minutes! The 2021 Founders' Day Challenge will begin at 6:11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, November 2, and end at 2:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday, November 3 to accommodate our West Coast Brothers. Early gifts count!

Anyone! Lambda Chi Alpha has affected more lives than our Brothers alone. If you know others who support our vision, invite them to be a part of this special day.

From the creation of lifelong friendships to invaluable opportunities, Lambda Chi Alpha changes the course of a man’s life.

The Founders’ Day Challenge is an opportunity to celebrate our founding, connect with our Brothers, and contribute to the future of Lambda Chi Alpha. It is an international effort to inspire undergraduates, alumni, parents, and friends of Lambda Chi to make a gift of any size to support the Educational Foundation.

Each dollar raised through the Founders’ Day Challenge is invested in the Fraternity through the We Believe Fund, which supports current and future member development programs, as well as academic and leadership scholarships, disaster relief grants, chapter operational support teams, and more.

We’re asking every Brother to participate in the Founders’ Day Challenge as a Donor and/or Ambassador, thus ensuring every man can have the chance to experience the life-changing brotherhood of Lambda Chi.

Staff members can accept gifts over the phone at (317) 872-8000. 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

Many corporations match employee charitable donations. Click here to find out if your company will match your gift. If your company is eligible, request a matching gift form from your employer, and send it to them completed and signed with your gift receipt.

Yes, we will gladly count donations using any of these methods, please contact one of our Stewardship Officers at foundation@lambdachi.org or call (317) 872-8000.

Each Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha has a Team fundraiser page on our campaign platform, allowing us to tally the number of donors and the total amount of donations raised on behalf of each Chapter.

On the campaign donation form, you will have the option to attribute your support to a Chapter Team.

When you attribute your support to your Chapter Team, your gift is counted towards your Chapter's total donor count and total dollars raised, helping to determine the top Chapters for the Challenge winners.

If you donate directly through an Ambassador donation form, your gift will be attributed to the whichever Chapter Team that individual Ambassador has joined.

In 2020, the following Chapters won the inaugural Giving Day Challenge:

Top 4 Schools - Impact (Dollars Raised)

1. University of Iowa - $36,367
2. Culver-Stockton College - $21,932
3. University of Denver - $11,500
4. Bradley University - $11,327

Top 4 Schools - Participation (Donor Count)

1. University of Denver - 36 Donors
2. Wabash College - 34 Donors
3. Culver-Stockton College - 32 Donors
4. Eastern Illinois University - 24 Donors

Who will win the 2021 Founders' Day Challenge? View the Leaderboard here.

We need your help to reach thousands of Brothers, friends and family members who love Lambda Chi. Signing up to be an Ambassador and encouraging others to participate is one of the best ways to support the Founders' Day Challenge!

Your excitement and energy leading up to and on November 2 will help us celebrate our Founders’ legacy.

All Ambassadors have an opportunity to participate in one of two trainings to learn more about the day and how we’ll reach our goals together.

Impact Challenge Gifts (i.e., 2 for 1 match, etc.) are vital to the success of this campaign, and we are excited to discuss your involvement further. Please contact one of our Stewardship Officers at foundation@lambdachi.org or call (317) 872-8000.