UT Student Emergency Fund

Who We Are

When life interrupts learning, Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students is here when students and families need us most. When something unexpected or difficult happens—a parent gets sick, an apartment burns down, a major injury happens, anything that disrupts a student’s education—we’re here. In addition, food insecurity on campus is real. Some Longhorns don’t know how they’ll afford their next meal. Now, they can stop by the UT Outpost to pick up a bag of food from our Food Pantry. If they need a complete outfit for an upcoming internship or job interview, they can pick one out at the Career Closet. The UT Outpost is one of the many resources provided by Student Emergency Services..



What we are fundraising for

We can help students with financial hardships that result from an emergency situation. The money we provide pays for things like utilities, medication, books and school costs, replacement of belongings damaged in a natural disaster or fire, safety needs (such as a lock change), etc. If we can help them bridge their momentary financial distress, we can keep them in school and on the way toward graduation. Additionally, the UT Outpost is a part of the Student Emergency Services program within the UT Dean of Students’ office. It makes make nutritious food readily available to students when they need it and helps all UT students understand and identify food insecurity needs within our own community.



Impact 

With your support, we can help students with financial hardships that result from an emergency situation. The money we provide pays for things like utilities, medication, books and school costs, replacement of belongings damaged in a natural disaster or fire, safety needs (such as a lock change), etc. If we can help them bridge their momentary financial distress, we can keep them in school and on the way toward graduation. 

Your support will provide the resources needed to deliver more meals — and more well-rounded meals — to students in need through our UT Outpost food pantry program. This ongoing support has allowed us to support Longhorns like Marcel and Destiny: When hurricane Harvey hit Houston... “Thank you to the employees of the University of Texas who work behind the scenes to make this all happen. Thank you to the donors who were generous enough to offer us any assistance.” Marcel Gerardo Reyes, UT Austin Alum Facing financial hardship Summer 2019... 

“This summer was extremely difficult financially, thus mentally and emotionally. The department of education had a weird policy that wouldn't allow me to receive proper financial aid resources, and my summer job didn't have nearly enough hours to cover all of my bills AND necessities such as food. Having food provided with the UT Outpost helped significantly with improving my health inside-and-out and I'm incredibly thankful for UT's resources. Having nutritious foods available also helped immensely as I'm working hard to have a healthy lifestyle as a busy student. I have even recommended this source of aid to many of my other friends, which is when I realized how little this resource is advertised. I hope the outreach expands so more students can eat properly and fully while chasing their academic dreams.” Destiny Gonzales, UT Austin Stud



Leaderboard
Surprise Sticker Challenge
SURPRISE! From 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Central you can help win up to $1,000 for your favorite area of UT, and all donors who give during this time will receive a cool UT sticker. The two colleges, schools, units and organizations who receive the greatest number of unique gifts will receive the following prizes: 1st place: $1,000 2nd place: $500
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $1,000 Texas Women's Rugby 73
2 $500 Texas Taekwondo 61
3 UT Sailing Team 52
4 Texas Orange Jackets 25
5 TX Votes 23
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard Dollars
College, school, unit, or organization with the highest amount of dollars raised will be shown on a leaderboard for bragging rights only
Rank University-Wide Leaderboard Dollars Raised
1 Dell Medical School $4,380,096.00
2 Cockrell School of Engineering $1,037,665.00
3 College of Liberal Arts $914,605.04
4 College of Pharmacy $660,020.00
5 Texas Exes $458,669.00
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. The donor’s residence state will be determined by the donor heat map function of the giving day website and the credit card billing address.March 30 at 6:00 AM CT until March 31 at 10:00 PM CT - $100 per state, $5,000 total
Completed
Leaderboard
Longhorn Lunch Special Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units, and organizations that receive the greatest dollar amount on March 30 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CT 1st place will receive $1,500 2nd place will receive $750 3rd place will receive $250
Rank Prize Longhorn Lunch Special Challenge Raised
1 $1,500 College of Natural Sciences $7,925.00
2 $750 Texas Exes $7,035.00
3 $250 McCombs School of Business $2,530.00
4 Jackson School of Geosciences $2,525.00
5 School of Law $1,950.00
Ended
Leaderboard
Happy Horns Happy Hour Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts between March 30 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM CT will receive an additional award. 1st place will receive $1,500 2nd place will receive $750 3rd place will receive $250
Rank Prize Happy Horns Happy Hour Challenge Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Orange Jackets 250
2 $750 Texas Women's Rugby 220
3 $250 Texas 4000 For Cancer 145
4 Texas Crew 76
5 Texas Trap and Skeet 51
Ended
Leaderboard
Hungry Bevo Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts on March 31 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CT. 1st place - $1,500 2nd place - $750 3rd place - $250
Rank Prize Hungry Bevo Challenge Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Women's Rugby 400
2 $750 UT Child Development Center San Jacinto 291
3 $250 Texas Orange Jackets 211
4 Texas 4000 For Cancer 127
5 Morgantina Excavations 122
Ended
2
Match
Power Hour Day Two
Gifts to student support initiatives will be matched until $5,000 is exhausted. March 31 from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
Success!
40 for Forty Video Contest
The college, school, unit, or organization that has the best video as decided by the 40 for Forty Committee included in their 40 for Forty application submitted by February 7, 2021, will receive an additional $1,000. The award designation will be determined by the receiving college, school, unit, or organization. Deadline: March 7 at 11:59 CT - $1,000 designation
Completed
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Big Give Match
The first $10,000 in gifts will receive a match between March 31 from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM CT. Gifts of any size will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. March 31 from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM CT - $10,000 (no gift limit)
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
$500
5,000th Gift Milestone Award
Liberal Arts Council is the winner of $500 for the 5,000 Gift Milestone Award.
4,007 / 4,007 Gifts
Completed
$500
7,000th Gift Milestone Award
Dean's Scholars Student Association is the winner of $500 for the 7,000 Gift Milestone Award.
6,007 / 6,007 Gifts
Completed
$500
9,000th Gift Milestone Award
UT Child Development Center San Jacinto is the winner of $500 for the 9,000 Gift Milestone Award.
8,007 / 8,007 Gifts
Completed
Success!
Faculty & Staff Pre-Campaign Match
Faculty & Staff Pre-Campaign Match – The first $10,000 in payroll deduction pledges, made by UT Austin faculty and staff, between February 1 – August 31 will be matched based upon amount pledge between the first day pledged and August 31, 2021. There is no maximum individual donation amount for this opportunity. Feb 1 – August 31 (until funds are exhausted) - $10,000 (no gift limit)
Completed
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Greatest Number of Gifts Received
College, school, unit, or organization with the greatest number of gifts will be shown on a leaderboard for bragging rights only.
Rank University-Wide Leaderboard 2 Gifts
1 Texas Women's Rugby 1,891
2 Texas 4000 For Cancer 1,570
3 Texas Orange Jackets 686
4 Morgantina Excavations 683
5 UT Child Development Center San Jacinto 307
Ended
Success!
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. March 30 at 6:00 AM CT until March 31 at 10:00 PM CT - $250 per continent, $1,750 total
Completed
Leaderboard
Kick Off Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts between March 30 from 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM CT will receive an additional award. 1st place will receive $1,500 2nd place will receive $750 3rd place will receive $250
Rank Prize Kick Off Challenge Gifts
1 $1,500 Morgantina Excavations 62
2 $750 Texas 4000 For Cancer 54
3 $250 Steve Hicks School of Social Work 42
4 Texas Orange Jackets 41
5 TX Votes 14
Ended
2
Match
Power Hour Day One
Gifts to student support initiatives will be matched until $5,000 is exhausted from March 31 from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT.
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Student Study Break Match
The first $2,500 in gifts made by currently enrolled UT students will receive a match. Any gift of $25 or less will be matched until the total to be awarded, $2,500, is exhausted. March 30 from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM CT – $2,500 match for gifts up to $25
$2,500 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
All-Nighter Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts between March 30 from 8:00 PM – March 31, 7:00 AM CT will receive an additional award. 1st place will receive $1,500 2nd place will receive $750 3rd place will receive $250
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas 4000 For Cancer 902
2 $750 Texas Women's Rugby 648
3 $250 Morgantina Excavations 231
4 Liberal Arts Council 128
5 Texas Water Ski 109
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 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. March 31 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CT – $5,000 match for gifts up to $250
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
2021 Class Gift Match
All gifts made by newly graduated and current UT Austin underclassmen and graduate students scheduled to graduate in 2021 will be matched until the total to be awarded, $50,000, is exhausted.6 AM March 30 – 10 PM March 31 CT (until funds are exhausted) – $50,000 (no gift limit)
$34,788 MATCHED
Ended
Leaderboard
Final Countdown Challenge
The top 3 colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts between March 30 from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM CT will receive an additional award. 1st place will receive $1,500 2nd place will receive $750 3rd place will receive $250
Rank Prize Final Countdown Challenge Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Women's Rugby 276
2 $750 Texas Exes Chapters and Networks 103
3 $750 UT Sailing Team 103
4 Morgantina Excavations 92
5 Texas 4000 For Cancer 59
Ended
$500
6,000th Gift Milestone Award
Morgantina Excavations is the winner of $599 for the 6,000 Milestone Award.
5,007 / 5,007 Gifts
Completed
$500
8,000th Gift Gift Milestone Award
School Of Human Ecology is the winner of the 8,000 Gift Milestone Award.
7,007 / 7,007 Gifts
Completed
$1,000
10,000th Gift Milestone Award
Department of Psychology is the winner of $1,000 for the 10,000 Gift Milestone Award.
9,007 / 9,007 Gifts
Completed
Don't forget to share!

Questions? See our FAQ.

Or you can contact us at annual.giving@austin.utexas.edu.