Founders Day Challenge
Founders Day Challenge is the Delta Zeta Foundation’s annual day of giving.
Held on or near Founders Day, it is a 48 hour effort to inspire Delta Zetas and friends to support the Delta Zeta Foundation. Since 2018, Delta Zeta and friends have empowered the woman by showing loyal support during the challenge.
Founders Day Challenge 2026
October 22–23, 2026
Join sisters and friends from around the world as we honor 124 years of Delta Zeta sisterhood during our ninth annual Founders Day Challenge!
Your support helps Delta Zeta continue to adapt and meet the ever-changing needs of Delta Zeta women. Today’s collegians are determined to create a fool-proof future. Your gift is an investment in the leadership programs, member development, scholarships and everlasting sisterhood that prepare them for whatever they face in their future.
Gifts to the Delta Zeta Foundation, including every gift made during Founders Day Challenge, help fund life-changing resources for every sister:
- Scholarships to help collegians and alumnae achieve their educational and professional advancement goals.
- Leadership programming, including the Norma Minch Andrisek Leadership Conference and Leader Summit, empowering each attendee to trust her own abilities, advocate for others, and move through difficult experiences with a growth mindset.
- Mental wellness resources including Protect Your Shell that help form the building blocks of lifelong well-being and steadfast friendships that serve as an antidote to loneliness.
- A place for every sister to belong, where each member can express herself with honesty and integrity while respecting and encouraging others to be their authentic selves.
How to Get Involved
Celebrate 124 years on October 22–24: Wear your pink and green, connect with your sisters and share what Delta Zeta means to you.
Give to the Delta Zeta Foundation on October 22–23: Make a gift of any size during Founders Day Challenge. Every contribution makes a difference and helps unlock matching gifts throughout the day!
Inspire your Delta Zeta network to join you: Share your Delta Zeta story on social media with #TrulyGiving and #EmpowerTheWoman. Challenge sisters, friends and family to give and celebrate with you!
Collegians: Join the 1902 Loyalty Society for the 2026–2027 year today! As a thank you for your gift of $19.02 or more, you will receive your Turtle dangle for your badge. If $19.02 is more than you can contribute at the moment, the Alpha Theta Chapter at the University of Kentucky and the Beta Gamma Chapter at the University of Louisville have challenged every sister to join them in skipping the trip to the coffee shop and instead giving at least $6 to the Delta Zeta Foundation. They’ll match every collegian’s gift up to $5,000! That’s a huge impact! Be sure to check the “Donor” box when you give and select “Collegiate Coffee Challenge” from the dropdown menu.
BECOME A FOUNDERS DAY CHALLENGE Advocate.
Ready to make it official? Help us share the word about Founders Day Challenge as an Advocate in 2026!
Your excitement, enthusiasm and Delta Zeta connections will help inspire all Delta Zetas to join us! Start by exploring the Advocate Tool Kit, filled with everything you need to plan your outreach. To have your advocacy celebrated, create or log in to your GiveCampus account. From there, you can easily share the campaign with your sisters, family and friends and see the difference your efforts make.
If you would like to share about the campaign without having it count towards your advocacy, every post and share helps grow the reach of the Founders Day Challenge. Advocates can request additional contact information for your local chapter, alumnae association, alumnae in your area (and more!) by emailing [email protected].
