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Center for Media Engagement

Who We Are

The Center for Media Engagement envisions a vibrant American news media that more effectively empowers the public to understand, appreciate, and participate in the democratic exchange of ideas. We are a first-of-its-kind center that conducts original, groundbreaking research alongside newsrooms, social media platforms, and organizations looking to influence media practices for the benefit of democracy. We translate our theoretically driven and methodologically rigorous research into tools and strategies that these same stakeholders and collaborators can employ for the greater good.

 

 

What We’re Fundraising For

Our research tests strategies for informing audiences, promoting substantive discourse, and helping citizens to understand diverse views. At the same time, we help media organizations achieve their business goals by analyzing outcomes like subscriptions, clicks, and time on page.

 

 

Your Impact

Donor gifts will help fund research that allows us to help newsrooms build trust in media and help audiences engage in democracy in meaningful ways.

Leaderboard
Surprise Mid Morning Stretch
Surprise! Its a Mid Morning Stretch! From 9 – 11 a.m. Central you can help win up to $1,500 for your favorite area of UT. The three colleges, schools, units and organizations who receive the greatest number of unique gifts will receive the following prizes: 1st place: $1,500 2nd place: $750 3rd place: $250
Rank Prize Participating Groups Gifts
1 $1,500 UT Sailing Team 89
2 $750 Texas Trap and Skeet 86
3 $250 Texas Orange Jackets 23
4 Cockrell School of Engineering 15
5 Texas Exes Chapters and Networks 14
Ended
Leaderboard
Happy Horns Happy Hour Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of unique gifts within this designated period will receive an additional award. The award designation will be determined by the receiving college, school, unit or organization. September 15 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST 1st place - $1,500 2nd place - $750 3rd place - $250
Rank Prize Participating Groups Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Crew 126
2 $750 Texas Orange Jackets 113
3 $250 Texas Trap and Skeet 109
4 TX Votes 35
5 Texas Exes 27
Ended
Leaderboard
Longhorn Lunch Special Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest dollar amount within this designated period will receive an additional award. The award designation will be determined by the receiving college, school, unit or organization. September 15 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST 1st place - $1,500 2nd place - $750 3rd place - $250
Rank Prize Participating Groups Raised
1 $1,500 Cockrell School of Engineering $28,865.00
2 $750 Longhorn Wrestling $11,050.00
3 $250 College of Liberal Arts $10,835.00
4 Landmarks $10,025.00
5 Texas Exes $9,809.00
Ended
$1,883
1883 Gift Milestone Award
The Forty Acres Scholarship Program was the winner of $1,883 for the 1883 Gift Milestone Award.
1,883 / 1,883 Gifts
Completed
Success!
International Challenge
International Challenge – The first donor from each continent will win an additional $250 toward their designation. Donor’s residence country will be determined by the donor heat map function of giving day website and the credit card billing address. September 15 at 6:00 AM CST until September 16 at 10:00 PM CST - $250 per continent, $1,750 total
Completed
Leaderboard
University Wide Gift Leaderboard
College, school, unit, or organization with the greatest number of gifts will receive awards in the following order: 1st Place - $3,000 award 2nd Place - $1,000 award 3rd Place - $500 award
Rank Prize Participating Groups Gifts
1 $3,000 Texas Trap and Skeet 783
2 $1,000 Texas Orange Jackets 636
3 $500 Texas Crew 394
4 McCombs School of Business 380
5 Cockrell School of Engineering 346
Ended
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Coffee Break
Gifts made by faculty and staff donors will be matched dollar for dollar until the $1,000 is exhausted. Constituent classification will be determined by self-selection at check-out and will be verified by the 40 for Forty Committee. All awards will be tentative until constituent identity can be verified. September 15 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST
$1,000 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Hungry Bevo Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of unique gifts within this designated period will receive an additional award. The award designation will be determined by the receiving college, school, unit or organization. September 16 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST 1st place - $1,500 2nd place - $750 3rd place - $250
Rank Prize Participating Groups Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Crew 114
2 $750 Longhorn Band Student Association 73
3 $250 Texas Trap and Skeet 51
4 Cockrell School of Engineering 42
5 McCombs School of Business 22
Ended
Leaderboard
Final Countdown Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of unique gifts within this designated period will receive an additional award. The award designation will be determined by the receiving college, school, unit or organization. September 16 from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST 1st place - $1,500 2nd place - $750 3rd place - $250
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Orange Jackets 195
2 $750 Texas Trap and Skeet 170
3 $250 Cockrell School of Engineering 55
4 McCombs School of Business 53
5 Texas Exes Chapters and Networks 47
Ended
2
Match
Longhorn Parent Lunch Match
The first $5,000 in gifts made within this period by parents of currently enrolled UT students will receive a match. Any gift of $250 or less will be matched until the total funds to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. Constituent classification will be determined by self-selection at check-out and will be verified by the 40 for Forty Committee. All awards will be tentative until constituent identity can be verified. September 15 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST – $5,000 match for gifts up to $250
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Big Give Match
The first $10,000 in gifts within this period will receive a match. Gifts of any size will be matched until the total funds to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. Constituent classification will be determined by self-selection at check-out and will be verified by the 40 for Forty Committee. All awards will be tentative until constituent identity can be verified. September 16 from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM CST - $10,000 (no gift limit)
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
$500
5,000 Gift Milestone Award
Texas Exes is the winner of $500 for the 5,000 Gift Milestone Award.
5,000 / 5,000 Gifts
Completed
$700
7,000 Gift Milestone Award
Black Alumni Network- Brenda Burt Scholarship is the winner of $700 for the 7,000 Gift Milestone Award.
7,000 / 7,000 Gifts
Completed
Success!
Longhorn Pride Social Media Challenge
Longhorn Pride Social Media Challenge – Show your Longhorn pride and help the UT area of your choice win $1,000! Post a selfie or photo showing your Longhorn pride and tell your friends why you give back during 40 for Forty. The winning photo, as decided by the 40 for Forty committee, will win an extra $1,000 for the UT area of your choice. Only photos posted on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using the hashtags #UT40for40 and #UTEntry will be eligible to win. Deadline: September 16 at 4:59 pm CST - $1,000 designation
Completed
Success!
Faculty & Staff Pre-Campaign Match
The first $40,000 in payroll deduction pledges, made by UT Austin faculty and staff will be matched based upon amount pledge between the first day pledged and August 31, 2020. There is no maximum individual donation amount for this opportunity.
Completed
$400
4,000 Gift Milestone Award
Texas 4000 for Cancer is the winner of $400 for the 4,000 Gift Milestone Award.
4,000 / 4,000 Gifts
Completed
Leaderboard
Surprise Challenge
SURPRISE! From 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Central you can help win up to $1,500 for your favorite area of UT. The three colleges, schools, units and organizations who receive the greatest number of unique gifts will receive the following prizes: 1st place: $1,500 2nd place: $750 3rd place: $250
Rank Prize Participating Groups Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Trap and Skeet 68
2 $750 Texas Orange Jackets 67
3 $250 Texas Men's Water Polo 27
4 UT Sailing Team 21
5 Classics Department 16
Ended
Leaderboard
Kick Off Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of unique gifts within this designated period will receive an additional award. The award designation will be determined by the receiving college, school, unit or organization. September 15 from 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM CST 1st place - $1,500 2nd place - $750 3rd place - $250
Rank Prize Participating Groups Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Orange Jackets 61
2 $750 Texas Crew 60
3 $250 Texas Exes Chapters and Networks 27
4 College of Natural Sciences 26
5 Texas Exes 22
Ended
Success!
US State Challenge
Keep an eye on the main page’s donation heat map! The first donor from each state will win an additional $100 toward their designation. Donor’s residence state will be determined by the donor heat map function of giving day website and the credit card billing address. September 15 at 6:00 AM CST until September 16 at 10:00 PM CST - $100 per state, $5,000 total
Completed
Success!
Texas Exes Coloring Challenge
Complete the official coloring pages of 40 Hours for the Forty Acres to win prize money for your favorite area of campus! To enter, post your completed coloring sheet to your favorite social media platform with the tags @texasexes and #UT40for40. Deadline: September 16 at 4:59 p.m. Central. Download the coloring pages https://bit.ly/3iob6Mn Prizes: 1st Place – Adults (18+): $1,000 2nd Place – Adults (18+): $500 1st Place – 17 & under: $1,000 2nd Place – 17 & under: $500
Completed
Leaderboard
University Wide Total Dollars Leaderboard
College, school, unit, or organization with the highest amount of dollars raised will receive awards in the following order 1st Place - $3,000 award 2nd Place - $1,000 award 3rd Place - $500 award
Rank Prize Participating Groups Raised
1 $3,000 Texas Exes $1,594,752.95
2 $1,000 McCombs School of Business $1,292,542.12
3 $500 Moody College of Communication $1,181,474.00
4 Dell Medical School $548,353.04
5 LBJ School of Public Affairs $447,655.23
Ended
Leaderboard
All-Nighter Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of unique gifts within this designated period will receive an additional award. The award designation will be determined by the receiving college, school, unit or organization. September 15, 10:00 PM CST – September 16, 7:00 AM CST 1st place - $1,500 2nd place - $750 3rd place - $250
Rank Prize Participating Groups Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Orange Jackets 61
2 $750 Texas Trap and Skeet 60
3 $250 Longhorn Band Student Association 53
4 Texas Exes 15
5 McCombs School of Business 13
Ended
2
Match
Hook ‘em Parents Match
Gifts from parents of current UT Austin students will be matched during this time period until the total funds of $2,500 is exhausted. The award designation will be determined by the receiving college, school, unit or organization. Constituent classification will be determined by self-selection at check-out and will be verified by the 40 for Forty Committee. All awards will be tentative until constituent identity can be verified. September 16 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM CST
$2,500 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
First-Time Donor Match
The first $5,000 in gifts made by people who have never made a gift to The University of Texas at Austin will receive a match. Any gift of $50 or less will be matched until the total funds to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. Constituent classification will be determined by self-selection at check-out and will be verified by the 40 for Forty Committee. All awards will be tentative until constituent identity can be verified.
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Student Study Break Match
The first $2,500 in gifts made within this period by currently enrolled UT students will receive a match. Any gift of $25 or less will be matched until the total funds to be awarded, $2,500, is exhausted. Constituent classification will be determined by self-selection at check-out and will be verified by the 40 for Forty Committee. All awards will be tentative until constituent identity can be verified. September 15 from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM CST – $2,500 match for gifts up to $25
$2,500 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
2020 Class Gift Match
All gifts made by newly graduated and current UT Austin underclassmen and graduate students scheduled to graduate in 2020 will be matched until the total funds to be awarded, $50,000, is exhausted. Constituent classification will be determined by self-selection at check-out and will be verified by the 40 for Forty Committee. All awards will be tentative until constituent identity can be verified.
$19,569 MATCHED
Ended
$600
6,000 Gift Milestone Award
University of Texas Libraries is the winner of $600 for the 6,000 Gift Milestone Award.
6,000 / 6,000 Gifts
Completed
Success!
Ambassador Round-Up Challenge
The Ambassador Round up challenge winner is the College of Liberal Arts!
Completed
Success!
40 for Forty Video Contest
40 for Forty Video Contest – The college, school, unit or organization who has the best video as decided by the 40 for Forty Committee included in their 40 for Forty application submitted by February 7, 2020 will receive an additional $1,000. The award designation will be determined by the receiving college, school, unit or organization. Deadline: March 6 at 11:59 CST - $1,000 designation
Completed
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