The (603) Challenge

The #UNH603 Challenge is your chance to give back! It’s a university-wide fundraising drive during which you can give directly to the areas of UNH that have supported you, or that you just really enjoy and value.

Matching Funds: What makes this fundraising drive even more special is that a group of generous underwriters pledge matching support (for 2020, it’s $200 per donor until the $200,000 in matching funds run out), allowing your gift to go even further!

Carsey Area Challenge: If the Carsey School can reach 40 online donors by the end of the Challenge on April 13, 11:59 p.m. EST, our generous underwriters will kick in an extra $35,000 to support student scholarships. To help us achieve this goal, donate early in the Challenge and encourage others to contribute to Carsey student scholarships so we can hit that 40-donor mark!
Donate Here

If you can, now is the time to donate to the Carsey School of Public Policy – or to any of your favorite areas of UNH. Thank you!

UNH (603) Webpage

Donate to Carsey

Meet MPP Student Ellie Masson

Master in Public Policy (MPP) student Ellie Masson’s passion for criminal justice issues stems from her work as a legal clerk and working closely with criminal defense clients. Another inspiration to pursue this field came after reading Bryan Steven’s Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Learn more about Ellie.

Meet MCD Student Yyokkia Lawson

Yyokkia Lawson has a long history of working in housing and economic development at the community level. Upon returning to her home of Athens, Georgia, several years ago, she became increasingly concerned about the staggering poverty and substandard housing that she witnessed throughout the Southern United States, particularly in rural areas. Learn more about Yyokkia.

Meet MCD Graduate Ali Sekou

A 2019 graduate of the Master in Community Development program at the Carsey School, Ali Sekou serves actively within his community as a member of several organizations – including the Concord Library’s Trustees and the Islamic Society of Greater Concord. He was recently named to the New Hampshire Union Leader’s annual 40 Under Forty list of outstanding residents across the state. Learn more about Ali.

Meet MCD Student Alena Klimas

Alena Klimas of West Virginia focuses on serving rural communities in and around the Appalachia region by connecting small-town nonprofits and community organizations to large national and regional funders and foundations. Her capstone project within the Master in Community Development program maintains a similar focus. Learn more about Alena.

Meet MPP Student Faith Thompson

Master in Public Policy (MPP) student Faith Thompson ‘20 earned her Bachelor’s degree in History and Justice Studies; in 2020, she enrolled in the MPP program at Carsey. Upon graduating, Faith plans to work for a nonprofit or other organization focused on serving vulnerable populations. Learn more about Faith.

Donate to Carsey

What is The (603) Challenge?

It is UNH’s annual online fundraiser in which donors support their favorite area(s) of the university for the chance to have their gift matched or amplified. Through the challenge, gifts are matched, up to $200 per donor until the $200,000 in matching funds run out. If you miss out on the matching funds, there are other surprise bonus challenges throughout to help your gift go even further. This is all made possible thanks to a generous group of underwriters.

What are the official rules?

Gifts must be received online between 12:00 a.m. ET on Friday, April 9, 2021, and 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 to be counted as part of the challenge and be eligible for matching and bonus funds. UNH will match gifts in the order of which they are received, and all bonus challenge rules will be made clear when announced. A donor can give to multiple areas and/or give in multiple transactions but will only be matched up to $200 total (until the matching funds run out). Read the official rules

Why should you support UNH during The (603) Challenge?

Making a gift to UNH, in any way and at any time, will help ensure that current and future students have an inspiring, transformative, and educational experience while at UNH. But making your gift during The (603) Challenge specifically allows you to magnify the overall impact of your philanthropy and join in on an incredible expression of Wildcat pride.

How much should I give?

The amount of your gift is entirely up to you! From $6.03 to $60.03 to $603, gifts of every size can make a difference and help us achieve our goal of record setting participation in this year’s challenge.

What areas can you support?

ANY! That is one of the best parts of the challenge. We encourage you to give to the area(s) you’re most connected to, which could be a college, academic department, athletic team, student organization, scholarships, other programs, or the new Student Emergency Assistance Fund. If you don’t see the specific area you want to give to listed on the site, simply select “other fund” and write in a description.

What if the matching funds run out?

Having your gift matched can have the biggest impact but those funds do run out quick! There will be surprise bonus challenges throughout the challenge that will allow you to potentially increase the impact of your gift by having additional funds added to it. Additionally, certain areas have their own bonus challenges, so supporting them can allow them to earn additional funding if they reach their goal. Check unh.edu/603 regularly for updates and announcements on these bonus challenges and to see a listing of the area bonus challenges you can help support.