Following the success of last year’s award-winning mystery-themed campaign, a new case has opened at Cal State San Bernardino.

CSUSB will celebrate Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1 with “Detective Cody and the Case of the Empty Shelves,” a university-wide campaign inviting students, faculty, staff, alumni, families and friends to come together in support of CSUSB students.

This year’s campaign will shine a spotlight on the Basic Needs Program, Obershaw DEN food pantry at the San Bernardino campus and PDC DEN food pantry at the Palm Desert campus. It will also provide opportunities to support student scholarships, programs and 10 crowdfunding projects across the university.

CSUSB has set a goal of raising $150,000 from more than 500 donors. Participants can join the investigation by making a gift, supporting a crowdfunding project, donating requested food and essential items, becoming a fundraising advocate or encouraging others to participate.

A growing need for student support

During just the first four weeks of the fall semester, the DEN locations at the San Bernardino and Palm Desert campuses served more than 2,500 students and recorded more than 7,600 visits.

Through Giving Tuesday, the Coyote community can help support resources that allow students to remain focused on their education and success.

The campaign centers around three ways to make an impact: Community members can donate requested food and essential items for the DEN food pantries, make a financial contribution to Basic Needs or another area meaningful to them, or support scholarships, programs and crowdfunding projects benefiting CSUSB students.

Building on an award-winning campaign

Last year’s Giving Tuesday campaign brought together nearly 600 donors who contributed more than $188,000 in support of CSUSB students, programs and resources.

The campaign also received two 2026 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards: a Silver Award for Annual Giving Campaign and a Bronze Award for Special Events.

For 2026, Detective Cody returns with a new case that builds on the creativity and momentum of last year’s campaign while placing an even greater emphasis on student impact, philanthropy and campus participation.

Join the investigation

There are several ways for Coyotes to participate before and during Giving Tuesday.

Supporters can become Giving Tuesday fundraising advocates by sharing the campaign with their personal and professional networks, promoting a project or cause they care about, and using their GiveCampus advocate links to track the gifts inspired by their outreach.

Donors can also establish a matching gift or challenge. Matches can encourage others to give by matching contributions up to a designated amount, while challenges can unlock additional support when a fundraising or donor-participation milestone is reached.

The campus community can also participate in Giving Tuesday activities leading up to Dec. 1, including opportunities to donate gifts-in-kind for the DEN food pantries and engage with participating crowdfunding projects.

On Dec. 1, CSUSB will bring the campaign together through Giving Tuesday activities on campus, including the Cody Fill the Cart Challenge, where the Coyote community can help stock the shelves of the DEN food pantries.

Every gift and act of participation contributes to the collective impact of the Coyote community.

Donors do not have to wait until Dec. 1 to participate. Gifts can be made now, and supporters can explore Giving Tuesday projects, become advocates and learn more about ways to get involved through the CSUSB Giving Tuesday website.