Scarlet and Give Back Day Banner Logo. Text with silhouette of a squirrel

Scarlet & Give Back Day — Grinnell’s 24-hour giving challenge — is underway!

Mike and Linda Powers ’67 are offering this year’s challenge:
If 3,000 people make a gift to Grinnell today, they will give Grinnell $400,000!

Mike and Linda Powers '67As Mike, a biology major, and Linda, an economics major, prepare to return to Grinnell for their 50th Reunion, they’ve decided to make a substantial commitment to the College and a challenge to all Grinnell alumni, friends, parents, students, faculty, and staff. The couple has been supportive of Grinnell for years — Linda has served as the class of 1967’s class agent for more than two decades — and this will be their one major gift. “As we decided on making the commitment financially, we became particularly enamored by the CLS programs,” says Mike. “Looking back at our Grinnell experiences, we could have benefitted from what the CLS has now and what it has the potential to offer with continuing support.”

Andy Hamilton '85, director of athletics and recreation, is offering an additional challenge to current and former athletes, parents of current and former athletes, and coaches and athletics staff!! If 750 individuals with a relationship to athletics give to Grinnell today, he will dye his hair scarlet!

To make your gift,

Since the College’s beginning, gifts to Grinnell have helped provide students with learning opportunities and knowledge that prepare them to be successful contributors in our ever changing world.

Scarlet & Give Back Day was first introduced in 2015 to celebrate Grinnell College through philanthropy. In total Scarlet & Give Back Day has generated 5,519 donors and $2,185,685.

Follow the Challenges

Keep track of how you and your fellow Grinnellians are progressing towards our goals.

  • Powers Challenge - Follow our progress with our tracker
  • Athletics Challenge - Check out the progress bar
  • Social Media - See what other Grinnellians are saying using the hashtag #givingtogrinnell on Twitter and Instagram