From the Nominator

The EveryCat Challenge is a high-energy, community-focused campaign designed to kickstart Westminster's fundraising year each fall. Uniting every constituent group within the school around an ambitious goal of securing one gift for every student ("Wildcat"), the challenge aimed to build institutional pride and emphasize The Westminster Fund's impact on the student experience. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, the EveryCat Challenge played a pivotal role in introducing the community to Lead On: The Campaign for Westminster, as the transformative capital campaign moved into its public phase. The EveryCat Challenge exceeded all of its goals, making it the most successful EveryCat in the school's history. It raised $3,071,797 unrestricted operating dollars, surpassing the $2.5 million goal; secured 1,901 gifts, exceeding the goal of one gift per 1,891 students; surpassed all donor-category participation goals; connected donor generosity to the broader Lead On Campaign through thematic messaging and brand elements; used a multichannel approach, including fundraising pages, social media campaigns, email outreach, campus signage, and events; and engaged volunteer groups to ensure widespread participation and advocacy. The record-breaking success was rooted in a highly collaborative, data-driven strategy that prioritized storytelling to inspire a diverse donor base. The EveryCat Challenge maximized impact by repurposing narratives, integrating cross-functional talent, infusing the challenge into existing campus activities, and using project management tools.

From the Judges

This campaign was highly impactful, effectively tying the institutional mission to the donor experience by aligning the number of gifts to the student population. Through a data-informed approach and compelling storytelling from faculty and alumni partners, the initiative achieved an incredible return on investment and impressive open rates on a relatively low budget. While the strategy followed a more traditional giving-day framework rather than exploring radical innovation, its multi-layered execution and strong participation results successfully met every strategic objective. Ultimately, it serves as an excellent model for a well-integrated campaign that delivers clear value and sets a powerful tone for the fundraising year.