Roadrunners Rise is MSU Denver’s comprehensive fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $100 million to fuel our vision of becoming a national leader in social mobility. We invite you to learn more about MSU Denver and our funding priorities through the stories of our incredible students, alumni, faculty and staff.
Together, we can make sure that all Roadrunners Rise!
During this season of gratitude, we are especially thankful for the generosity of our Roadrunner family. Making a gift at the end of the year is a great way to support MSU Denver and take advantage of potential tax benefits you may qualify for this year. Your support allows our students to achieve their dream of earning a degree and excel in truly exceptional ways.
We invite you to explore the many ways you can make a difference for Roadrunners this season!
MSU Denver Holiday Break
MSU Denver will be closed Dec. 25, 2025 – Jan. 2, 2026. Mail will not be delivered during the holiday break.
Making a gift of stocks/securities is a great way to support the MSU Denver Roadrunner community. Follow this link for detailed delivery instructions. Stocks, bonds and other marketable securities must be in the possession of Syntrinsic, our investment manager, on or before Dec. 31
IRA Charitable Rollovers allows donors to maximize charitable contributions while still minimizing their AGI when transferring to qualified public charities like MSU Denver. Contact Louanne Saraga-Walters at [email protected] to inquire about making your year-end rollover gift.
EFT/Wire Transfers must be received at UMB Bank on or before Dec. 31 to receive a 2025 tax receipt. Follow this link for more information.
In order to have your gift applied to 2025, it must be postmarked by December 31, 2025. Checks should be made out to MSU Denver Foundation, Inc. and be mailed to:
MSU Denver Foundation
Campus Box 14, PO Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362
Make your year-end gift online by clicking on this link and selecting the designation of your choice.
Changes to the tax code beginning January 1, 2026, could affect how and when you choose to give to MSU Denver and other nonprofits. Find out more about what this means for your giving.
Colorado Gives Day: Dec. 9, 2025
Colorado Gives Day is an annual 24-hour movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving.
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Dec. 9, or schedule your gift today to have your donation counted for Colorado Gives Day.
Holiday Package
Tis the season for Roadrunners holiday gear! Our limited-edition Roadrunner Holiday Sweater (Unisex sizes and made of 100% super-soft acrylic) is yours with a gift of $75 to any fund on campus. Roadrunner Holiday socks (100% wool) are available with a gift of $25. With your gift of $25, you will receive an MSU Denver stocking cap (100% soft acrylic).
Ensuring that all Roadrunners Rise requires thoughtful investment in university priorities and programs that work
Expand our scholarship programs and wrap-around services so that all students can achieve their American Dream without hindrance due to background, income level or other barriers to success.
Accelerate the number of Colorado’s historically marginalized students who stay in school and graduate by investing in programs to diversify faculty and mentoring and increase access to learning opportunities.
Provide solutions to Colorado’s pressing workforce challenges and to students’ access to opportunities by scaling our innovative model for industry partnerships, community engagement and lifelong career success.
Increase the number of skilled, prepared students in areas most needed by Colorado’s industries by expanding and improving learning environments, supporting endowed positions and investing in innovative programs.
It takes a community
The vision to ensure all Roadrunners rise demands the efforts and support of many. From excellent faculty to dedicated staff and engaged alumni, MSU Denver is a community that invites the participation and support of everyone.
Paramount to these efforts is the investment of the incredible community of Roadrunner supporters. Philanthropic support of our students and the university’s greatest priorities is what allows us to help all Roadrunners rise.
Rising Scholars is a multi-year video project detailing the lives of MSU Denver students. Filming began alongside the campaign’s start in 2021, we invite you to learn first-hand about the MSU Denver student experience and the impact your gift makes.
They call a flock of Roadrunners a marathon. The road is often hard, zig-zaggy and long – but as Roadrunners we are not alone. Together, we are Roadrunners Rising. Together, We Are MSU Denver.
First-generation. Latina. Student-athlete. Scholarship recipient. Integrative Health Care major. Roadrunner.
Meet Arianna
Father. Sailor. Business owner. Mentor. Entrepreneur. 2015 Criminal Justice graduate. Current online MBA student. Roadrunner.
Meet LeonInternational student. First-generation. Scholarship recipient. Student Employee. Extrovert. Roadrunner.
Meet DamarleyLatina. First-generation. Roadrunner Promise recipient. Hard-worker. Roadrunner.
Meet Ashley
Aspiring lawyer. 2021 Public Relations graduate. Podcaster. Story-teller. Proud alumni. Roadrunner.
Meet DerekAspiring pilot. Student leader. Scholarship Recipient. Aviation Enthusiast. Roadrunner.
Bird Talk is a fascinating glimpse into the lives and careers of the university’s accomplished alumni. Hosted by Jamie Hurst ’21, each episode features an in-depth interview with an alum who shares their unique journey and insights on how their time at MSU Denver shaped their success. From entrepreneurs to educators, artists to scientists, Bird Talk offers a diverse range of perspectives and experiences, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the impact of higher education.
Find the podcast on Apple or Spotify. Check out the latest episode below:
Summit House and C2 Hub Groundbreaking
Gina and Frank Day make record $10 million commitment to MSU Denver's Health Institute
A recent $1.5 million gift from the Dimond Family Foundation has significantly increased the funds available to School of Hospitality students, expanding access to financial aid and experiential opportunities like Lawrence’s that will help them graduate workforce ready. READ MORE.
MSU Denver alumnus Russell Noles understands firsthand the impact of representation in the classroom. When Noles was a student at George Washington High School in Denver, Colorado, his mother suggested he consider going into accounting. Initially unsure, he says everything changed when three Black accountants were guest speakers in one of his classes. Read More.
Western Union and the Western Union Foundation envision a world where everyone has equitable and abundant access to economic opportunity and the potential to thrive. In that spirit, the Western Union Foundation made a gift of $150,000 to Metropolitan State University of Denver, funding the Western Union Immigrant Student Annual Scholarship and supporting the University’s Immigrant Services Program and food pantry, Rowdy’s Corner, ensuring international students have access to the resources they need to remain in school and graduate. Read More.
Attorney and activist Dawn Bookhardt, J.D., is dedicated to helping Metropolitan State University of Denver educate a diverse health care workforce in the fields of speech, language and hearing. The chair of the MSU Denver Foundation board of directors recently made a transformational $1 million gift toward the construction of a new 70,000-square-foot health education building that will allow the University to bring its health-related academic programs under one roof. Read More.
To say Barb Grogan is passionate about Metropolitan State University of Denver is a bit of an understatement. In conversation, her infectious enthusiasm for all things Roadrunner bubbles over, making it impossible not to get swept away in the excitement. From faculty and staff to University leadership, she loves it all – but there’s nothing she loves more than the students. Read More.
Join the over 4,500 Roadrunner donors and make a gift in support of MSU Denver today!
Make a Gift
Embark on an exciting journey of connection, impact, and rewards with the Roadrunners Rise Campaign Passport, our new program celebrating alumni and donor engagement during the public phase of the campaign! From February 19, 2025, to June 30, 2026, earn points by giving back, attending events, volunteering, and staying involved with MSU Denver. The more you get involved, the more you rise—and the better the rewards!
For the first time ever, you have an opportunity to leave your legacy on the Metropolitan State University of Denver campus! During the Roadrunner Rise campaign, you can purchase an engraved brick that will be installed outside of the brand new C2Hub and student housing building scheduled for completion in 2027.
