The Cooper Union. Building a legacy of excellence since 1859.

Early Give challenge graphic

Giving Tuesday “Early Give” Opens November 9

Giving Tuesday is on December 1, 2026, but the momentum starts now. From November 9–30, make an early gift and help power our community’s shared commitment to Cooper students.

This year, we honor our beginning in 1859. Everything Cooper has achieved and aspires for the future stems from this moment. Stand with us – for our students, our alumni, and our wider Cooper community.

Help Reach Our Goal of $859,000 by December 1 and unlock an additional $1,000,000

Early gifts ensure we start Giving Tuesday strong and stay on track toward restoring full-tuition scholarships for all undergraduates.

How You Can Help

Make your Early Gift between Nov 9–30.

Share the challenge with fellow alumni, friends, and family.

Invite others to make a gift in honor of a fellow alumni, faculty member, or student!

Make it count. #forevercooper

  

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.