The Challenge is a program designed to provide alumni at law firms and organizations an opportunity to reconnect with their alma mater and promote giving in a fun and challenging way. Firms and organizations employing two or more USC Law graduates are encouraged to participate in the annual Challenge, led by one or more Firm Representatives. Within each firm or organization, our Representatives inspire everyone to join together and meet the 100% giving challenge during the law school's fiscal year. Any gift made from July 1 to June 19 counts for this year's Challenge.

The Challenge builds upon the legendary Trojan network comprising alumni, employers, students and the law school. Firms and employers benefit by enhancing their recruiting prospects at USC Law, a top-20 law school that enrolls some of the nation's best and brightest students. Also, firms and organizations that achieve 100 percent participation will receive special public recognition, including:

• Signage prominently displayed in common student areas at USC Law, inside the Career Services Office, and during on-campus interviews in the fall
• Public recognition in the Deliberations newsletter, USC Law's website, eNews, our annual donor report and in an advertisement in the Daily Journal

Your participation reflects your firm's support of USC Law!

Not only will your gift provide financial support for important programs, but also it raises our alumni participation rate (the number of alumni who make a gift each fiscal year to the law school). Participation is more than a statistic; it is the primary measure of alumni support, which in turn impacts USC Law’s reputation. By making a gift, you demonstrate the value you place on your legal education and your connection to USC Law.  Participation rates are also viewed as a vote of alumni satisfaction and are often considered by potential major donors (corporations and foundations) when making funding decisions.  The Challenge provides a fun and easy opportunity to make a difference and show your support of your law school.

Tuition covers only two-thirds of the actual cost of attending USC Law. The other third is a "hidden subsidy" which comes mainly from alumni philanthropy. Alumni giving provides for programs and needs which further enrich a student's experience. Your gift to the Law Firm Challenge will not only enable future students to attend USC Law but will ensure their experience continues to be as meaningful as yours.

You probably have a number of worthy causes that are philanthropic priorities. USC Law deserves to be among them. It is an extraordinary law school with all the necessary components of greatness. With your support, the school will continue to grow to as an institution dedicated to educating the best and brightest of legal minds - tomorrow's best lawyers.

Gifts made to other schools at USC are not credited to the law school for our alumni participation rate. We ask that you also make a gift, of any amount, to USC Law and increase our participation rate and make a difference for your alma mater.

Any cash gift made to USC Law between July 1 and June 19 will be counted as participation in that year's Law Firm Challenge. This includes, but is not limited to the fulfillment of a pledge, participation in your class reunion or a gift to a student organization.

Since participation each year is the ultimate goal, all gifts are greatly appreciated. Please also consider that there are costs involved in processing each gift and that every dollar will benefit students experience and education.

Absolutely. You can direct your gift to any number of programs within the Annual Fund - the law school's main fundraising drive to generate funds for a variety of purposes and programs for the school. The most commonly supported programs include:

• Class Scholarship Fund
• Public Interest Law Foundation
• Library and Information Technology Center
• Dean's Discretionary Fund, which provides the maximum flexibility to the dean in advancing the school.

Gifts can also be made to support specific student organizations, activities and programs (e.g., Latino Law Students Association-formerly La Raza, Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, Black Students Association, the Federalist Society, Law Review and journals).

There are 4 easy ways to make a gift to USC Law:

• Online
• Call (213) 743-1710 with credit card information ready
• Fax a gift form with credit card information to (213) 743-1778
• Mail a gift form with check or credit card information to:
  USC Gould School of Law
  Development and Graduate Relations
  1149 South Hill Street, Suite 340
  Los Angeles, CA 90015

Any gift made from July 1 to June 19 counts toward this year's Challenge.

Start by making a donation yourself and then talk with your colleagues about the Challenge and why you are participating. The primary reason why people will participate is because they are asked by someone they know. You should also speak with your firm's Representative to see what you can do to help them.

Representatives will inform and motivate their colleagues to make a gift to the benefit of the firm and USC Law.

Before the Law Firm Challenge, we send each Representative information about the program, the number of alumni at each company and information on how to get everyone involved.

During the Challenge we will send email updates about the status of each firm's participation so that Representatives can forward this information on to their colleagues and reach 100% participation and victory!

The Law Firm Challenge is open to any company, firm or organization where two or more USC Law alumni are employed. You can enroll to be a Representative by filling out the online form. We will then contact you and help complete the quick enrollment process.