Thank you for promoting Rice’s 24-Hour Challenge on Wednesday, April 2, 2025! Please use this toolkit to spread the word about the challenge and encourage giving to your program and to Rice.
Key Talking Points
Here are a few essential talking points about the challenge to help you build excitement and inform your audience.
The Goal
Reach our goal of 6,500 donors to unlock $600,000 in challenge funds for Rice.
The Impact
The 24-Hour Challenge is a day to rally around our incredible Owls and help provide the essential resources that make the Rice community so special. In your communications, explain how your fund benefits students, faculty, programs or initiatives. Tell stories of impact, detailing the ways that 24-Hour Challenge funding contributes to scholarships, technology, activities, specialized equipment, research opportunities and more.
What Counts
Gifts from the entire Rice community — alumni, parents, faculty/staff, current students and friends — will count toward the 6,500-donor goal.
How to Give
All supporters can make a gift online at challenge.rice.edu on April 2. In addition, there will be the following “early bird” giving opportunities:
- Supporters can make an “early gift” directly at challenge.rice.edu beginning March 26. Your program's giving page will be live at this time.
- If supporters visit challenge.rice.edu before March 26, they will be directed to a temporary giving form to make an early gift.
- Many supporters will receive a direct mail piece from the Annual Giving office in late February. Donors may mail in the gift form up to the day of the challenge or use the temporary form mentioned above.
Key Messages
- For Rice Owls, generosity is in our DNA — we Donate to causes that matter, Network with our community and Advance Rice’s mission.
- Express your unique Owl DNA by supporting the area of Rice that best represents your passions.
- Your generosity is uniquely yours, but together, it creates a powerful collective force for Rice.
- For social media: #1Day1Rice
Challenges
- Early Bird: March 26-April 1 at 9 p.m. CST, $4,000 bonus
- Rice and Shine: April 2 from 12:00 a.m.-6 a.m. CST, $1,000 bonus
- Power Lunch: April 2 from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. CST, $2,000 bonus
- Happy Hour: April 2 from 5-7 p.m. CST, $2,000 bonus
- Final Countdown: April 2 from 10 p.m.-11:59 p.m. CST, $1,000 bonus
- Residential College Challenge: The residential colleges with the highest participation among their alumni and students will earn a portion of $10,000: first earns $4,000, second earns $3,000, third earns $1,500, fourth earns $1,000, and fifth earns $500!
24-Hour Challenge Color Palette
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#00205B |
#66C8FF |
#0A3E9B |
#FF6818 |
#5DBE85 |
24-Hour Challenge Logos
Share Your Message Via Email
Encourage your supporters through personalized communications! We suggest emailing your network to articulate reasons for giving to your specific fund and to illustrate the impact of the 24-Hour Challenge.
Sample Save the Date Email
Subject: Mark your calendar for Rice’s 24-Hour Challenge, April 2!
Send Date: Any time after March 3, 2025
Dear [Insert Name],
Save the date for Rice’s 24-Hour Challenge on April 2! This year, Rice aims to secure 6,500 donors who will showcase their generosity — can [insert designation] count you as one of them?
Mark your calendar and help us spread the word. Let’s go all in for Rice!
Sample Pre-Challenge Early Giving Window
Subject: 24-Hour Challenge is [tomorrow]: support [insert designation/fund name]!
Send Date: Early giving window of March 27-April 1, 2025
Dear [Insert Name],
Rice’s 24-Hour Challenge is [tomorrow]! Join the Rice community in supporting [insert designation].
This year, [insert designation] aims to raise [insert dollar and/or participation goal] in support of [insert how your department will benefit]. Can we count you in?
Each gift contributes to a powerful collective force for Rice. Get a head start and make your gift today at [insert unique tracking link*]. We’ve got 24 hours — let’s go all in for Rice!
[Insert your name]
Attach your unique tracking link* to the button below.
Sample Challenge Day Email
Subject: 24-Hour Challenge is here! Give today
Send Date: Wednesday, April 2, 8-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 5-7 p.m.
Dear [Insert Name],
We are halfway through the day, and X donors have already expressed their Owl DNA by generously donating to [insert designation].
You still have time to join us for the 24-Hour Challenge — but there are only X hours left! Give today at [insert unique tracking link*]. Go Owls!
[Insert your name]
Attach your unique tracking link* to the button below.
Sample Thank You Email
Subject: Thank you for your generosity!
Send Date: Any time after April 2
Dear [Insert Name],
Thank you for your participation in this year’s 24-Hour Challenge! Your gift contributed to [insert dollars] raised in support of [insert your designation/how your department will benefit].
This campus-wide day of giving highlights the impact of our combined generosity. By coming together, we ensure that our students receive the support they need and our university continues to thrive. We are grateful for your incredible effort and steadfast commitment to Rice.
[Insert your name]
*Unique tracking links will be shared by 3/14/25 via email with those who submitted funds to be included in the 2025 24-Hour Challenge. Using a unique tracking link helps us determine how many donations were driven by campus partner outreach. If you did not receive a unique tracking link or have any questions, please contact challenge@rice.edu.
Email Graphics
Spread the Word on Social Media
The 24-Hour Challenge is a perfect time to lean on social media to ramp up excitement.
We’ve created some sample social posts and graphics for your content-creating pleasure. Don’t forget to follow Rice Giving on Facebook, Instagram and X and help us spread the word by re-sharing our content. You may also generate your own content, but please tag us (@RiceAnnualGiving on FB/IG, @RiceGiving on X) and use the hashtag #1Day1Rice so you can be part of the conversation.
Sample Pre-Challenge Copy
Save the date: Rice University’s 24-Hour Challenge is happening April 2! Visit [insert unique tracking link*] to learn more. #1Day1Rice
I just made an early gift to Rice’s 24-Hour Challenge! Join me in support of [insert designation]. Visit [insert unique tracking link*] to learn more. #1Day1Rice
Help Rice meet its goal of securing 6,500 donors in 24 hours! Visit [insert unique tracking link*] to learn more. #1Day1Rice
The countdown is on: we’re X days away from Rice’s 24-Hour Challenge! When you give to [insert designation], you help us meet our goal of [insert goal/participation goal] to [insert impact of your program]. Visit [insert unique tracking link*] to learn more about [insert designation]! #1Day1Rice
Sample Day-Of Copy
24 hours, 6,500 donors. Are you up for the challenge? Donate at [insert unique tracking link*] and showcase your philanthropic Owl DNA! #1Day1Rice
Join me in support of Rice’s 24-Hour Challenge happening NOW! A gift of any size will help [insert designation] meet our goal of [insert goal/participation goal]! Make your gift at [insert unique tracking link*]. We’re in it to win it! #1Day1Rice
Only X hours remain in Rice’s 24-Hour Challenge! Make your gift now at [insert unique tracking link*] to be counted toward our goal of 6,500 donors. Thank you for your support! #1Day1Rice
Sample Thank You Copy
Generosity has never looked so good. Thank you for helping [insert designation] raise [total amount raised] through the 24-Hour Challenge! Your donations help [insert impact about giving] and ensure that our Owls have the resources they need to thrive. #1Day1Rice
*Unique tracking links will be shared by 3/14/25 via email with those who submitted funds to be included in the 2025 24-Hour Challenge. Using a unique tracking link helps us determine how many donations were driven by campus partner outreach. If you did not receive a unique tracking link or have any questions, please contact challenge@rice.edu.
Social Media Images
Right click (or long press on mobile) and save to your device.
Design Your Own
We created Canva templates for you to drag-and-drop your own photos and videos into.
Square Images
Rectangular Images
Vertical Animations
Email Signature
If you would like to use a 24-Hour Challenge branded email signature, copy the graphic below and paste it into the signature box in Outlook.
Instructions for Outlook:
1. Open an email draft. On the Message tab, click on the ‘Signature’ drop-down and then on ‘Signatures…’ then click ‘New’ to create a new signature.
2. Copy and paste the text and logo into the editing box or click the image with a small computer thumbnail and insert the downloaded image.
3. Press ‘Save’ and then ‘OK.’
Additional Questions?
We’re on standby to answer any questions you may have. If you have any questions about this toolkit, please reach out to challenge@rice.edu. For all other 24-Hour Challenge questions, please contact giving@rice.edu for assistance.
