Contests

Here's where you can find all of the opportunities to help your favorite schools and programs win extra funds and bragging rights — time-based contests, competitive social media events, and Big Matches. Help your favorite Cal causes glow even more brightly today!

Past Events

$10,000
ERG Annual Fund Challenge
An ERG faculty member will contribute $10,000 once 100 gifts are made to the ERG Annual Fund.
100 / 100 Gifts
Completed
Event
Top 5 Programs with the Most You+2 Ambassadors During Big Give
The top 5 programs with the most ambassadors that meet the criteria for You+2 will win additional prize money to the referral area they selected in the Ambassador Dashboard. You must have selected a referral area to be eligible. ($3,500; $2,500; $2,000; $1,000; $500). WINNERS: 1st place (tie): POWER OF A PRINCESS and ZAHANAT; 2nd place: AAAA - FURRIES AT BERKELEY; 3rd place: CAL BAND; 4th place: CALSOL; and 5th place (tie): PROJECT RISHI, INTERMISSION ORCHESTRA, RE-ENTRY STUDENT PROGRAM, and SPACE TECHNOLOGIES AT CALIFORNIA (STAC)
Ended
Event
5 Random Ambassadors that Meet Criteria for You+2 | 9 p.m. to noon
5 random ambassadors that meet the criteria for You+2 will win additional $750 each to the affinity area they selected in the Ambassador Dashboard or the area that they supported. WINNERS: POWER OF A PRINCESS, CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, CAL BAND, BALLET COMPANY AT BERKELEY, MOTOSTUDENT OF CALIFORNIA!
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Top 2 funds with the most unique donors win prize money ($2,000; $1,000).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $2,000 The Cal Band Annual Fund 54
2 $1,000 Zahanat 43
3 The Cal Alumni Association Fund 33
4 Haas School of Business Fund 30
5 The Berkeley Engineering Fund 27
Ended
Event
Most Faculty and Staff Donors | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Top 2 funds with the most unique faculty and staff donors wins additional prize money ($1,500; $1,000). WINNERS (TIED): EMERYVILLE SATELLITE CAMPUS FUND, HAAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS FUND!
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Top 2 funds with the most unique donors win prize money ($1,500; $1,000).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $1,500 Zahanat 43
2 $1,000 The PUENTE Project Fund 30
3 The Cal Parents Fund 23
4 AAAA - Furries at Berkeley 23
5 The Berkeley Engineering Fund 22
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Top 2 funds with the most unique donors win prize money ($3,000; $1,500).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $3,000 Azaad 72
2 $1,500 The PUENTE Project Fund 48
3 The Cal Alumni Association Fund 36
4 The Cal Band Annual Fund 34
5 LETTERS & SCIENCE LEADERSHIP FUND 29
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Top 3 fund with the most unique donors win prize money ($5,000; $2,500; $1,000).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $5,000 Formula Electric at Berkeley 267
2 $2,500 The Cal Band Annual Fund 180
3 $1,000 Azaad 81
4 CalSol 76
5 The Berkeley Engineering Fund 39
Ended
Event
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST | Brightest Blue and Gold Memory | 9 p.m. to 10 a.m.
Share your favorite Cal memory on Instagram or X (Twitter). Include #CalBigGive and a program hashtag. Randomly chosen original post wins $500 for its featured program. WINNER: Cloud at California.
Ended
Event
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST | Future Golden Bear | 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Share a photo of a spirited little one cheering on Cal on Instagram or X (Twitter) with your program hashtag and #CalBigGive. A randomly chosen original post wins $500 for their respective program. WINNER: CalSol (UC Berkeley Solar Vehicle Team)
Ended
Event
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST | Who Do You Glow for? | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tell us about (and tag if you wish) your favorite prof, student, friend or person at Cal by filling in the blank on Instagram or X (Twitter), "I give to Cal bc of______ who______" Include #CalBigGive and a program hashtag. Randomly chosen original post wins $500 for its featured program. WINNER: The Intermission Orchestra at Berkeley
Ended
Event
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST | Throwback: A Decade Aglow | 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Big Give turns 10 today! So share a throwback photo from your time at Berkeley to celebrate what the Cal community means to you. Post on Instagram or X (Twitter). Include #CalBigGive, #TBT, and your program hashtag. Randomly chosen original post wins $500 for its featured program. WINNER: Helix @ Berkeley
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors During Big Give
Top 5 funds with the most unique donors during the 24 hours of Big Give win prize money ($10,000; $5,000; $2,500; $1,000; $500).
Rank Prize Funds Donors
1 $10,000 Formula Electric at Berkeley 601
2 $5,000 The Cal Band Annual Fund 522
3 $2,500 The Berkeley Engineering Fund 443
4 $1,000 Zahanat 387
5 $500 Haas School of Business Fund 349
Ended
Event
Most International Donors | 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Top 2 funds with the most unique international donors win additional prize money ($1,500; $1,000). WINNERS: PROJECT RISHI AND BERKELEY HAAS FULL-TIME MBA PROGRAM FUND!
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Top 3 fund with the most unique donors win prize money ($2,500; $1,500; $1,000).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $2,500 Project RISHI 62
2 $1,500 The Berkeley Engineering Fund 44
3 $1,000 Haas School of Business Fund 43
4 The Berkeley Basic Needs Fund 36
5 The Cal Band Annual Fund 33
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Top 2 funds with the most unique donors win prize money ($2,000; $1,000).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $2,000 The Cal Parents Fund 75
2 $1,000 Azaad 69
3 American Advertising Federation 64
4 The Berkeley Engineering Fund 52
5 Haas School of Business Fund 41
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Top 2 funds with the most unique donors win prize money ($1,500; $1,000).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $1,500 Space Technologies and Rocketry (STAR) 67
2 $1,000 Zahanat 63
3 The Center for Educational Partnerships Fund 53
4 The Berkeley Engineering Fund 33
5 The Cal Parents Fund 29
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Top 3 funds with the most unique donors win prize money ($2,500; $1,500; $1,000).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $2,500 Zahanat 136
2 $1,500 The Cal Band Annual Fund 113
3 $1,000 The Cal Parents Fund 80
4 LETTERS & SCIENCE LEADERSHIP FUND 45
5 Haas School of Business Fund 38
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Top 2 funds with the most unique donors win prize money ($5,000; $2,500).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $5,000 Formula Electric at Berkeley 217
2 $2,500 Space Enterprise at Berkeley 195
3 SKY Campus Happiness Club at Berkeley 133
4 Space Technologies and Rocketry (STAR) 102
5 The Berkeley Engineering Fund 48
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors | 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Top 3 funds with the most unique donors wins additional prize money ($2,500; $1,500; $1,000).
Rank Prize Fund Designation Donors
1 $2,500 Cal Triathlon 106
2 $1,500 Formula Electric at Berkeley 97
3 $1,000 Space Technologies at California 53
4 The Cal Band Annual Fund 49
5 Haas School of Business Fund 44
Ended
Event
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST | What Do You Glow for? | 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Fill in the blank on Instagram or X (Twitter), "[Program hashtag] deserves Big Give love bc_______" Include #CalBigGive and a program hashtag. Randomly chosen original post wins $500 for its featured program. WINNER: Space Enterprise Berkeley.
Ended
Event
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST | Friends of Oski | 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Share a photo of your pet in their Cal gear on Instagram or X (Twitter) with your program hashtag and #CalBigGive. A randomly chosen original post wins $500 for their respective program. WINNER: Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Ended
Event
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST | Show Your Cal Spirit | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Share a photo of you and/or your friends in your best blue and gold gear on Instagram or X (Twitter), including your program hashtag and #CalBigGive. A randomly chosen original post wins $500 for their respective program. WINNER: Eta Kappa Nu
Ended