We’re excited to share that Orange & Blue crowdfunding will return in 2026 with a refreshed structure and even more opportunities for impact. This year’s event will be called Orange & Blue Days and will take place on March 4–6, 2026, aligning once again with the long-standing March Forth campaign by the Marching Illini.
This microsite features best practices, examples, and templates you can use to let our donors, alumni, and friends discover all the ways they can make a difference. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into amplifying the message of these important projects at Illinois. You are making a true difference for our students and university.
Important Dates:
- As of February 18, 2026, the pages are up and active. They can receive early gifts now through the end of the campaign.
- The countdown timer will show Orange & Blue Days ending at 11:59 PM on Friday, March 6th. However, we will reopen the page to continue to accept gifts through Sunday, March 8th at 11:59 pm.
- *If your campaign receives late offline gifts that should be included in your totals, please email Rachel Hull before noon on Monday, March 9th at: rhull3@illinois.edu
What’s Changing This Year?
We’re building on what we learned in 2025 to make the experience better for both units and donors. In 2026:
- The campaign will focus on a university-wide participation goal of 1,000 donors.
- All projects will be organized under one of two main categories on our homepage to improve clarity and visibility (Student Support & Campus Community and Culture).
- Projects should emphasize storytelling, impact, and achievable participation goals (we recommend 25 donors per project, unless your annual giving track record supports another goal).
Overall Campaign Structure
- Student Support
Includes scholarships, student services, student organizations, the Career Center, leadership programs, and more — anything that helps students thrive inside and outside the classroom. - Campus Community and Culture
Includes projects from across the university that strengthen our shared campus experience, ex: arts and culture, museums, sustainability, animal care, Vet Med, the Alumni Association, and facility-based projects. - March Forth: Support the Marching Illini (standalone featured campaign)
A long-standing annual initiative, March Forth will be prominently featured and is not open for additional project submissions.
Requirements for Campaigns
- Campaigns should be submitted by December 31
- Goals should be participation-focused. Recommended: 25 donors, unless past annual giving track record justifies a higher amount.
- Each campaign must submit a communications plan and list their main communications staff contact.
- Each campaign must submit a list of people who can be asked for challenge/match gifts in February 2026 (either by the unit or by OVCIA)
- Each campaign team must meet with OVCIA for a brief (20 min) intake before they submit.
Questions?
Reach out to OVCIA’s Associate Director of Strategic Engagement, Rachel Hull, at rhull3@illinois.edu.