Waves Give Day 2026 Sets New Records with Nearly $1.5 Million Raised for Pepperdine Athletics
4/23/2026 12:20:00 PM | General, Featured
MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine Athletics saw a historic day of generosity as Waves Give Day 2026 raised $1,479,705 from 1,156 donors, marking the most successful giving day in department history.
The 2026 campaign, which took place on April 8, surpassed last year's record totals by a significant margin, highlighted by 416 first time donors contributing to Pepperdine Athletics.
After setting goals of $1 million and 1,000 donors for this year's Waves Give Day, both benchmarks were significantly exceeded, nearly doubling the previous record of $760,996 from 2025 while also surpassing last year's record 873 donors by nearly 33%.
"Waves Give Day represents far more than a record-breaking total," said Director of Athletics Tanner Gardner. "It reflects the collective belief in what Pepperdine Athletics can and should be. To see more than 1,100 donors, including over 400 first-time supporters, invest in our student-athletes is both humbling and inspiring. This level of generosity fuels our commitment to building a Championship athletic program rooted in Christian values, academic excellence and community. I'm especially proud of the broad-based support across all of our teams, including our alumni engagement and the continued commitment from our athletics staff. This momentum positions us to elevate every aspect of the student-athlete experience and we are deeply grateful to everyone who made this historic day possible."Â
Strategic giving initiatives played a key role in this year's success, seeing $518,646 raised from matching gifts while new online gifts totaled $453,509.
Contributions spanned a wide range of designations, from team-specific support to facility enhancements and student-athlete development initiatives.
Among team designations, water polo led all programs with $303,680 raised followed by men's volleyball ($200,653). Significant contributions were also made to men's golf ($129,258) and men's tennis ($105,744) with $84,140 raised towards the Waves Excellence Fund.
Swimming & Diving led the way in terms of total donors, with 222 individuals making a unique gift to the program. Soccer (140), water polo (130) and baseball (101) also each reached triple-digits in the total donor count on the day.
The day also highlighted the powerful connection between former and current Waves, as student-athlete giving participation remained a key component of the campaign. Baseball led all programs with over $200,000 raised from alumni, followed by water polo ($53,923) and men's volleyball ($38,623). In total, 249 gifts were made from former Pepperdine student-athletes and 59 from current student-athletes.
The day also marked the second straight year with 100% athletics staff giving.
"I'm very proud of our staff for leading by example with their support of Waves Give Day," added Gardner. "Their commitment, combined with the incredible support from former and current student-athletes, is a testament to how committed our community is to supporting one another."
This year's increased level of investment reflects powerful momentum for the department, elevating the opportunity to provide championship-level support directly to student-athletes. Every dollar raised will lead to enhancing Pepperdine's ability to compete at the highest level while supporting student-athlete development academically and athletically.
For more information on supporting Pepperdine Athletics, visit here.
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine Athletics news, follow the Waves on social media: @PepperdineWaves.
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The 2026 campaign, which took place on April 8, surpassed last year's record totals by a significant margin, highlighted by 416 first time donors contributing to Pepperdine Athletics.
After setting goals of $1 million and 1,000 donors for this year's Waves Give Day, both benchmarks were significantly exceeded, nearly doubling the previous record of $760,996 from 2025 while also surpassing last year's record 873 donors by nearly 33%.
"Waves Give Day represents far more than a record-breaking total," said Director of Athletics Tanner Gardner. "It reflects the collective belief in what Pepperdine Athletics can and should be. To see more than 1,100 donors, including over 400 first-time supporters, invest in our student-athletes is both humbling and inspiring. This level of generosity fuels our commitment to building a Championship athletic program rooted in Christian values, academic excellence and community. I'm especially proud of the broad-based support across all of our teams, including our alumni engagement and the continued commitment from our athletics staff. This momentum positions us to elevate every aspect of the student-athlete experience and we are deeply grateful to everyone who made this historic day possible."Â
Strategic giving initiatives played a key role in this year's success, seeing $518,646 raised from matching gifts while new online gifts totaled $453,509.
Contributions spanned a wide range of designations, from team-specific support to facility enhancements and student-athlete development initiatives.
Among team designations, water polo led all programs with $303,680 raised followed by men's volleyball ($200,653). Significant contributions were also made to men's golf ($129,258) and men's tennis ($105,744) with $84,140 raised towards the Waves Excellence Fund.
Swimming & Diving led the way in terms of total donors, with 222 individuals making a unique gift to the program. Soccer (140), water polo (130) and baseball (101) also each reached triple-digits in the total donor count on the day.
The day also highlighted the powerful connection between former and current Waves, as student-athlete giving participation remained a key component of the campaign. Baseball led all programs with over $200,000 raised from alumni, followed by water polo ($53,923) and men's volleyball ($38,623). In total, 249 gifts were made from former Pepperdine student-athletes and 59 from current student-athletes.
The day also marked the second straight year with 100% athletics staff giving.
"I'm very proud of our staff for leading by example with their support of Waves Give Day," added Gardner. "Their commitment, combined with the incredible support from former and current student-athletes, is a testament to how committed our community is to supporting one another."
This year's increased level of investment reflects powerful momentum for the department, elevating the opportunity to provide championship-level support directly to student-athletes. Every dollar raised will lead to enhancing Pepperdine's ability to compete at the highest level while supporting student-athlete development academically and athletically.
For more information on supporting Pepperdine Athletics, visit here.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE ATHLETICS
Pepperdine University boasts one of the most successful athletic programs in the country for a school of its size. The Waves have claimed 10 NCAA Division I team championships and 26 team or individual national championships in their history. Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. Pepperdine is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine Athletics news, follow the Waves on social media: @PepperdineWaves.
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