News

Tohoku University hosted an appreciation ceremony to recognize the students, alumni, university officials and corporate sponsors involved in the Giving Campaign. It was the first time such an event had been held in the Tohoku region.

Designed by Alumnote Inc, the Giving Campaign is a distinctive fundraising model that empowers student groups to actively campaign for support, with funding distributed based on the volume of votes received by each group. It is a system meant to reward both initiative and community engagement.

In 2024 alone, some 470,000 people nationwide voted or participated in the campaign.

Ninety-five student clubs and project groups from Tohoku University collectively garnered 24,553 votes, with the Rowing Club securing the most votes for the fourth consecutive year.

"Rowing is expensive, so the Giving Campaign is important because it helps to ensure that we have adequate resources for our activities and training," said club member Saki Otsuka. "The networking process also strengthened our relationship with alumni and with rowing clubs from other universities."

Accepting the award onstage, Otsuka said the funding will help the club fulfil its ambition of winning the All-Japan Championships in September. "Rowing demands precision, communication and meticulous attention to detail," she said. "Our members rise at dawn, train twice daily and share meals prepared by our managers. This shared experience of living, eating and training together unites us in our pursuit of becoming Japan's number one team."

According to Vice President for Social Outreach and head of the Tohoku University Fund Tetsuya Nagasaka, the Giving Campaign's impact extends beyond immediate financial support.

"This model is similar to ideas competitions," he said. "Occasionally, students come up with remarkable ideas that no one else could have thought of. And whilst these may just be student projects at the moment, I believe that some will eventually develop into something extraordinary."

For many student organizations, the campaign offered invaluable exposure. "We joined to showcase our activities more broadly across Japan," said Danishi Ai from the ARES Project, a student group developing Mars rovers. "We did in fact get some direct messages on social media from people who were interested in our activities and wanted to chat with us, so this has worked out really well."

Alumnote CEO Toga Nakazawa revealed in his speech that his own experiences as a university student struggling with club fees inspired the creation of the Giving Campaign. "When I was a student playing violin in my university orchestra, my biggest challenge was financial. We needed professional instructors and had to travel for national performances, so club fees were very high," he said.

"If our fundraising through the Giving Campaign can alleviate some of the financial concerns of students, allowing more time for studies and club activities that create precious memories, that would bring me tremendous satisfaction."

The evening concluded with a networking reception, for students, sponsors and university officials to mingle and to further forge connections.

For the list of Tohoku University student groups ranked in the 2024 Giving Campaign, please visit: https://tohoku.2024.giving-campaign.jp/ranking