UCLA Fraternity Accused of Fabricating Charity Fundraising Totals

The Sigma Nu fraternity chapter at UCLA has been accused of significantly overstating its charitable fundraising achievements, reporting figures that were drastically higher than the actual amounts collected. According to reports, the fraternity claimed to have raised $100,000 in a single academic year, placing it at the top of campus fundraising efforts. This figure dwarfed the reported $37,556 raised by the second-ranked Delta Gamma sorority.

However, an amended report revealed that the Sigma Nu chapter had actually raised only $950 for charity during the 2025-26 academic year, representing less than 1% of its initial claim. This discrepancy emerged after fraternity alumni leaders acknowledged that inflated figures had been submitted for three consecutive years. The fraternity attributes the inaccuracies to a prolonged accounting mix-up, rather than intentional deception.

"We regret the error and appreciate the chance to set the record straight," Brian Zirbel, vice president for advancement of the Sigma Nu Epsilon Pi Alumni Board, told the Daily Bruin. Zirbel explained that undergraduate officers mistakenly included funds raised by the separate Sigma Nu Alumni Scholarship Fund in the chapter's totals. "The same error carried over each year as reporting responsibility passed between undergraduate officers."

Previous reports from UCLA's Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life had listed nearly $20,000 in fundraising for 2022-23, more than $250,000 for 2023-24, and $175,000 for 2024-25. These figures have now been revised.

Lindsey Goldstein, director of UCLA’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, confirmed that the university was informed of the discrepancies and received corrected figures on October 16. "When discrepancies are brought to our attention, we work with the chapters to clarify the information and make appropriate corrections to the report," Goldstein stated.

The $950 actually raised by the chapter in 2025-26 was donated to Angel City Pit Bulls, a nonprofit organization focused on rescuing dogs. The California Post reached out to Sigma Nu and UCLA for further comment.