Big Poet Give has ended, but you can always support Whittier students (click here)
Thank you for your generous support! We look forward to sharing final results soon.

PAINT THE NATION POET PURPLE CHALLENGE

When we receive at least one gift from every state, the entire map below turns Poet Purple—and President Dillon ’73 will add a $10,000 bonus gift to the Whittier Fund. GIVE NOW to make sure your state lights up!


BECAUSE POETS GIVE. BECAUSE POETS BELIEVE. THE GOOD DOESN'T STOP, IT GOES ON.

Whittier College is experiencing real, measurable momentum. Enrollment is rising. Fundraising is strengthening. Poet pride and engagement are deepening. This progress didn’t happen by chance; it happened because Poets showed up, stood together, and invested in a shared future.

TODAY, the Big Poet Give will celebrate the belief, generosity, and spirit at the heart of this upward trajectory. When Poets give, the good doesn’t stop — it goes on!

WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

The Whittier Fund is the engine driving student success. It provides the flexible, immediate support needed to meet evolving priorities from scholarships that open doors to innovative academic programs and campus experiences that shape confident, capable graduates.

When you give to the Whittier Fund, you advance:

  • MOMENTUM: Strengthening progress already underway.
  • COMMUNITY: When Poets show up, endless good results.
  • IMPACT: Your gift, of any amount, fuels real, visible change for today’s students.
  • CONTINUITY: Big Poet Give isn’t just a single day; it’s a movement that keeps Whittier thriving.

The momentum is real, and now is the time to build on it. Be part of the Big Poet Give and help push Whittier forward with purpose, pride, and a united Poet spirit. Your support turns possibility into progress.

BPG VIRTUAL BASH IS BACK!

TODAY from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. PST

Join the party here.

Featuring DJMO2—Leda (Mintzer) Muller '88—spinning Poet-powered tracks, hourly giveaways (tune in to win), real time fundraising updates, alumni selfies and memories, and more fun filled activities. Come celebrate the impact that keeps the good going on—we want to see you on the virtual dance floor!

LEAD THE MOMENTUM: JOIN US AS A BIG POET GIVE AMBASSADOR

Help amplify the Big Poet Give by becoming an Ambassador! With just a few simple steps — save the date (March 4), make your gift, and share the excitement with your Poet community — you can make a BIG impact. 

Ambassadors receive access to the Big Poet Give Toolkit, a personalized Ambassador link, and a dashboard to see results in real time. 

Sign-ups are open. Join us and help ensure the good goes on.

To count for Big Poet Give, gifts must be received by 11:59 p.m. TODAY.

Questions about the Big Poet Give? Contact whittierfund@whittier.edu or 562.907.4209.

Share on social with #BigPoetGive!
Give to put your state on the map! Together, we'll paint the nation Poet purple for $10,000.
Rank State Gifts
1 CA 374
2 WA 27
3 HI 20
2
Match
NEW: $10,000 MATCH FOR GIFTS IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT DILLON '73
Thank you for honoring President Dillon '73 and doubling your impact today. Your matched support amplifies our momentum and directly benefits Whittier students.
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
$100,000 WHITTIER FUND MATCH. FUEL THE HEART OF WHITTIER.
We unlocked the full $100,000 Whittier Fund match from Rick Gilchrist '68 and Bill Wardlaw '68. Your support strengthens the heartbeat of Whittier—fueling student success, inspiring excellence, and sustaining the programs that bring our mission to life. Thank you for helping raise $200,000 for the Whittier Fund and for making your impact count!
$100,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
$52,000 WHITTIER FUND SCHOLARSHIPS MATCH. EMPOWER A STUDENT'S JOURNEY.
Thanks to Wayne ’60 and Susie Elliott Harvey ’67, Vince '69 and Penny (Carns) Fraumeni '68, Bonnie MacEwan ’72, Austin Major '84, and Amy Pulver ’72, your gift to Whittier Fund – Scholarships will be matched up to $52,000. Together, we can lift financial barriers and help promising students step into the Whittier experience. Your impact today becomes their opportunity tomorrow.
$24,603 MATCHED
Ended
2
Match
$10,000 HAWAI'I STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS MATCH
Hawai'i Student Scholarships help talented students from the islands access a Whittier education. Many Hawai'i Poets return home after graduation, bringing their skills and leadership back to their communities. Steven Ai '76 will generously match the first $10,000 in gifts to the Hawai'i Student Scholarships fund. Your support strengthens Whittier today and invests in Hawai'i's future.
$5,960 MATCHED
Ended
2
Match
$10,000 MATCH FOR THE ORTIZ PROGRAMS
Thanks to your generosity, the $10,000 match from Ron Gastelum ’68 and Aurora Morales '88 for the Ortiz Programs has been earned. Thank you for partnering with Alianza de Los Amigos to raise $20,000 to uplift the Ortiz Programs.
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
$5,000 BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SUPPORT FUND MATCH
Our $5,000 match from Stephanie Wiggins '92 for the Black Alumni Association Support Fund has been met. Thank you for making a powerful impact! Your support raised a total of $10,000 which strengthens our community by providing scholarships and meaningful programming that empower students to thrive.
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
$5,000 PACIFIC NORTHWEST SCHOLARSHIP MATCH
For generations, students from Washington and Oregon shaped Whittier's story. Today, you can help write the next chapter. Thanks to Sanjay Das '93 and Leda (Mintzer) Muller '88, the first $5,000 given to the Pacific Northwest Scholarship will be matched, doubling your impact and expanding access for promising Pacific Northwest Poets.
$2,234 MATCHED
Ended
2
Match
$5,000 SCHLICKER ORGAN RESTORATION MATCH
Restoring the Schlicker pipe organ in Memorial Chapel means preserving a beloved piece of Whittier College's living history. For more than 60 years, this remarkable instrument has sparked creativity and inspired generations of Poets through its artistry and sound. Thanks to Raymond Erickson '63, the first $5,000 in gifts will be matched.
$3,160 MATCHED
Ended
2
Match
$8,000 FACULTY AND STAFF MATCH
Thanks to the Faculty and Staff who shape the student experience every single day—and today, your impact was doubled. The full $8,000 match from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and Ken Woods '84 was met earning $16,000 for our worthy Poets.
$8,000 MATCHED
Completed
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Questions? See our FAQ.

Or you can contact us at whittierfund@whittier.edu.