Building bold ideas and bright futures with Giving Day 2025
Actions speak louder than words — but on SAIT’s ninth annual Giving Day, actions and words came together to do something amazing! For 24 hours, the SAIT community gathered to laugh, cheer, rally and raise funds to help make a difference in the lives of students.
As the clock struck 10 am on Wednesday, Oct. 29, SAIT staff, students, alumni, partners and friends thoroughly smashed the fundraising target by more than just a little! As the campaign closed off, more than 250 donors surpassed the $110,000 goal and raised an incredible $162,045 (and counting!) to make an impact today and tomorrow.
Empowering real students. Building real places. Unlocking real possibilities.
From student awards and cutting-edge learning labs to bold student-led innovations and a new heart of campus life, Giving Day 2025 was all about empowering potential. This year had a focus on three priority funding areas.
Real Students
This area was all about developing and delivering programs and services for students facing barriers to completing their education, including food insecurity, financial vulnerability, accessibility and diverse learning needs. Support for this initiative directly helps students like Jinny Yang.
“I am an international student at SAIT … I have been experiencing financial difficulties due to rising currency exchange rates, challenges finding part-time work and the removal of the tuition installment plan. Receiving this emergency funding has truly eased my stress during this difficult time. Thanks to your support, I am now able to pay my rent this month. Your kindness and generosity have made a meaningful difference in my life, and I am deeply grateful for your help.”
Real Places
This area helps build the future heart of SAIT — The Taylor Family Campus Centre — a space for connection, collaboration and community and the new home for the Trojans.
“The impact of the new centre will be incredible. It will be one of, if not the best, facilities in Calgary and Alberta. To have that here at SAIT with the beautiful campus and history will be unbelievable.” shares Zach Cain, Bachelor of Business Administration Student and member of the Trojans Men’s Hockey.
Real Possibilities
Gifts towards this area supported the Innovative Student Projects Fund, which provides financial support to students to bring their creative classroom-based capstone projects to life. Recent Engineering Technology graduate Dexter Guino knows the direct impact funds like this can have on student success.
“One of the most meaningful parts of my journey was the opportunity to work with SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services, or ARIS. Surrounded by brilliant and supportive people, I was able to secure a research grant and complete a capstone project that opened my eyes to the world of applied research. It was exciting for me and my teammates to explore new knowledge, especially around Canada’s sustainability goals, and to see how engineering can play a role in tackling climate challenges.”
Thank you
A huge thank you to all members of the SAIT family who gave their support to make Giving Day 2025 the incredible success it was. Each action taken, gift made or words spoken will make a difference in the lives of SAIT students today and in the future
Thank you to our sponsors who have generously provided matching dollars for vital student success funds during Giving Day 2025.
Tomorrow’s talent, today
The Real Futures campaign will enable SAIT to deliver on the promise to transform who, how and what we teach in response to the changes unfolding across our communities, technologies and economies. With a fundraising target of $150 million, the campaign will assure SAIT’s continued ability to provide the training and skills that industry needs to stay relevant and that students need to thrive, whatever vision of tomorrow they’re working toward.
Real Futures
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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.