Learn more about this year's fundraising initiatives and support areas. When you select a support area, you are directing your donation specifically to that program or department on campus.

Athletics - During this year’s annual Unite for USD giving day, we are asking our Coyotes to contribute to the Champions Fund, which supports training opportunities and academic success for our student-athletes. 

Support Areas: Football, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Men's Golf, Women's Golf, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Track and Field, Triathlon, Volleyball, Women's Soccer and Women's Tennis

Beacom School of Business - At the Beacom School of Business, we take pride in our accomplishments in the areas of innovation, engagement, and impact. As the leading business school in the region, our programs are consistently ranked among the top business schools in the nation. Student engagement activities such as our Global Immersion Program, Coyote Business Consulting, and national student organization competitions broaden their perspective and sharpen their business skills. 

Support Areas: Coyote Business Consulting,Global Immersion and Summer Camp

Center for Disabilities - The Center for Disabilities carries out its diverse capacity-building efforts through community education, clinical services, interdisciplinary training, technical assistance, research, information dissemination and policy/advocacy work. Your gift is an investment in a brighter future for the community of people with disabilities, their families and the workforce that supports them.

Charlie's Career Closet - Charlie’s Career Closet provides new or gently used business-professional and business-casual attire to USD students at no cost. Investing in Charlie’s Career Closet is an excellent opportunity to support the next generation of leaders, an act that goes beyond giving students free clothing.

Charlie’s Cupboard - By donating any size, you can help solidify the program’s future, growth and mission to ensure every student on campus can focus on school without worrying about where their next meal will come from.

College of Arts & Sciences - Giving to the Arts & Sciences Opportunity Fund today will prepare students for a successful tomorrow. Your gift will provide students the opportunity to participate in activities built to enrich their education journey.

Support Areas: Computer Science, Farber Fund, Media and Journalism, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Speech and Hearing Clinic

College of Fine Arts - Your support ensures that the USD College of Fine Arts has the ability to attract, train and empower a generation of leaders who are committed to artistic expression and creative innovation – through student scholarships and programmatic support. 

Support Areas: Art Galleries, Choral Music, Athletic Bands, Art Stars, Theater Stars and USD Strings

Coyote Beginnings - The Coyote Beginnings Fund is a general scholarship fund that seeks to bridge gaps in students’ financial aid needs. This fund differs from others in that it's tied to specific students and not specific academic units or departments.

Coyote Legacy Scholarship - The USD Foundation & Alumni Association debuted the Coyote Legacy Scholarship program in the fall of 2018 to recognize and honor families who have made a multi-generational commitment to USD.  When you make a gift during Unite for USD, you commit to growing the Coyote Legacy Scholarship program while supporting USD’s tradition of excellence.

E-Sports -  USD looks to grow its e-sport student athletic portfolio by improving its facilities to cater to a new audience and stand out competitively against other universities. In USD Esports Arena we strive to provide top-of-the-line technology to support students in their gaming and technical experiences. Available for general student use, we also are home to the USD Esports club and we constantly strive to provide students with not only a safe space between hectic classes and more, but we also help develop skills that could benefit students such as rapid decision making, hand-eye coordination, teamwork, accountability, confidence, and more.

Gallagher Center - The University of South Dakota (USD) is committed to increasing access to global programming for all students, including first-year students. This year, 10 first-year students participated in a two-week faculty-led study abroad trip to England, where they developed resiliency skills that will support their success throughout their education. Following their immersive experience, they continued their journey with an eight-week fall course, connecting their experiences abroad to their academic and career goals.

Graduate School -  When you support the Graduate School, you enable current and future graduate students to accomplish research and creative scholarships, both of which are crucial to success. Additionally, your gift allows graduate students to share their findings at the regional, national and international level.

Honors Program - The Honors Program offers travel and research opportunities designed to broaden student’s global and intellectual horizons, and funds from Unite for USD will ensure that all students have the financial ability to take part.

James W. Abbott Scholarship Endowment - Created in recognition of Abbott's decades-long commitment to education and the betterment of the state of South Dakota, this fund provides crucial support to students in Vermillion and Sioux Falls. It's more than a scholarship - it's an investment in the next generation and ultimately, our state's future. When you support this fund, you're helping to build a South Dakota that thrives. You're empowering the next generation of leaders who will shape our communities for years to come.

Knudson School of Law - The USD Knudson School of Law has recently established the 1901 Fund. This endowed fund was specifically created to provide scholarships exclusively to law school students, to help ensure that we attract and retain the best applicants and make sure that no talented student is unable to go to law school because they are unable to afford it.

Office of Multicultural Affairs - Your donation will support the expansion of community outreach, enhance leadership development, and improve recruitment and retention efforts. Additionally, it will promote travel opportunities and help us attract guest speakers. A contribution to the Office of Multicultural Affairs will also enhance resources and programming that reflect students' needs, connect communities, encourage social engagement, celebrate cultural traditions, and foster a shared understanding.

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs - The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs supports and expands competitive research and creative scholarship at USD. The office oversees USD's research function, assisting faculty and researchers, generating student opportunities, and establishing and administering policies governing the conduct of research and overseeing the management of research programs.

Office of Service Learning Student Lead Events & Programming - The Office of Service Learning (OSL) is home to not only three of the largest service-led student organizations, but to dedicated students that donate their time to organizing events aimed toward raising awareness around social issues, fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network and volunteering within local communities and across the country. Funding and support will allow us to reach larger audiences, travel to more locations, attend larger trainings and purchase much-needed supplies to make our impacts lasting.

President's Student Learning Institute -PSLI - With your support, we can expand opportunities to invest in the leadership development of more students. We are asking you to be part of growing these programs and providing an opportunity for all students to succeed. Your gift toward undergraduate leadership programming at USD is an investment in the skills and experiences students need to be the best neighbors you'll ever have and the best employees you'll ever hire.

ROTC - USD is looking to further enhance its training facilities by constructing a rappel tower, obstacle course, ropes course, and more. Your support will make these plans a reality.

Sanford School of Medicine - Located in downtown Sioux Falls, the Coyote Clinic promotes the well-being of the community by providing high-quality, free healthcare to the uninsured. The Coyote Clinic empowers Sanford School of Medicine medical students to serve in a primary care role to patients, under the supervision of local physicians, and advocate for the well-being of the Sioux Falls community through collaborative, interdisciplinary healthcare teams.

School of Education - The School of Education Excellence Fund supports students and faculty in areas of travel, innovative educational experiences and technology.

Support Area: Helping Hands Fund, Graduate School Education

School of Health Sciences - Your gift to the School of Health Sciences will support us in fulfilling our top priorities of providing academic scholarships to students in financial-need, upholding our reputation of exceptionally accomplished faculty guiding students through a wide range of human service programs and enhancing our outstanding programs in and out of the classroom.

Sorority and Fraternity Life/AFLV Student Conference - Sorority and Fraternity Life is raising funds to send student leaders to the Association for Fraternal Leadership and Values (AFLV) national conference, which takes place every February in Indiana or California. This conference provides students with an opportunity to engage with Greek Life on a national scale, gaining valuable skills in leadership, recruitment, risk management, mental health, and more. Attendees return to USD with new knowledge and skills to strengthen their chapters and the community.

Spirit Teams - By supporting this fund, you’re empowering current members to compete at the national level, travel to support Coyote Athletics and gain the skills to represent the Coyotes in a professional manner. Any gift, large or small, will help current and future students build the confidence, strength and character needed to compete and represent USD – enhancing their strength as leaders in today’s world.

Student Counseling Center- In response to the increasing demand for mental health services on college campuses, USD has established the Mental Health Fund. This initiative prioritizes our students' mental health with the support of both administrative and departmental resources. Contributing to this fund demonstrates a commitment to enhancing mental health services, including funding additional counseling hours, facilitating campus events focused on mental health promotion, providing ongoing education for counseling staff, and improving access to crisis care and online support services.

Student Emergency Fund - By making a gift today to the Student Emergency Fund, you will help ensure that our students needing financial assistance during any time of uncertainty are backed and supported by those who care about their education the most.

Testing Center - A gift to the USD Testing Center help provide needed structural modifications, digital enhancements, training programs and technology upgrades necessary to create an accessible environment that ensures everyone, regardless of ability, has an opportunity to fully participate.

UPD Therapy K9 - Therapy K9s can provide numerous benefits to victims of crime. They offer emotional support and comfort, helping victims cope with trauma and reduce anxiety. By making a gift of any size to the UPD Therapy K9 fund, you will make a permanent investment in supporting our students when they need it the most.

USD - Sioux Falls - A contribution to USD-Sioux Falls provides students with connections to the main campus through support for student organizations, improved academic experiences, opportunities to attend athletic events, and enhanced orientation experiences that promote Coyote values.

Veterans Scholarship and Relief Fund - The USD Veterans Scholarship and Relief Fund will provide opportunities for our Veterans and their dependents to be successful. By making a gift of any size to the Veterans Scholarship and Relief Fund, you will help ensure the success of our Student Veterans and Military Affiliated Students.

Wiyuskinyan Unpi Tipi - The Wiyuskinyan Unpi Tipi – which translates from Lakota to “they are living contently” – is a living learning community dedicated to Native American or Indigenous students and/or Native American studies majors and minors. Raising money for this initiative would support programming and growth for the 2024-2025 Living Learning Community cohort.