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Kendra Scott WEL Institute
The Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute

 Who We Are 


The Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin will strengthen the next generation of courageous, creative female leaders who will change the world — in business and beyond. Through an environment of community, diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment, we will redefine leadership and entrepreneurship by growing the number of women-owned and women-led businesses.


The KS WEL Institute is specifically built to address the barriers women may face in business – whether cultural, financial, or personal. We want to break down those barriers and clear the path for our students. We do so in three distinct ways. First, we empower our students to become leaders and founders - through speakers, role models, visibility, representation, and celebration of success. Second, the KS WEL Institute works to build a community of strong women both within and outside UT. Lastly, we strive to equip our students with hands-on tools, workshops, and curriculum for gaining intentional skills, practice, and internships. 


 What We Are Fundraising For


The Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute is raising money for: 


1. The Featured Female Founders Program 

The program spotlights and equips self-identifying women entrepreneurs (both students and alumni) from the University of Texas at Austin by highlighting their businesses and startups. 


2. Student Leadership Opportunities and Professional Development Programs

These opportunities are offered through the Student Advisory Board, Student Council and internships within the KS WEL Institute. 


3. Mentorship and Programming 

Help the KS WEL Institute provide mentorship and programming to facilitate valuable connections and advice to students. 


4. KS WEL Institute Sponsored Courses 

These courses are interdisciplinary opportunities in management, design, and entrepreneurship that equip and empower students through the female lens. 


5. Signature Events 

The KS WEL Institute annual signature events include Women Summit and the Pitch Competition. These events are available to students and the community to further your career, leadership skills, and businesses. 


 Your Impact 


Through your donation, the KS WEL Institute will be able to continue to empower women to lead and to encourage the world to follow while equipping the next generation of female founders and leaders. 



 Learn More 


To learn more and discover other ways to get involved with the KS WEL Institute you can visit our website. To see firsthand the impact your donation makes follow us on social media at @kswelinstitute. 

Leaderboard
Surprise Late Night Challenge!
The top three colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts on September 22 from 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM CDT will receive an additional award! 1st place will receive $1,500 2nd place will receive $750 3rd place will receive $250
Rank Prize Surprise Late Night Challenge! Gifts
1 $1,500 UT Men's Ultimate Club 191
2 $750 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 155
3 $250 UT Archery Club 149
4 Texas Trap and Skeet 116
5 Texas Orange Jackets 24
Ended
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 Gifts Gifts
1 Texas Trap and Skeet 897
2 UT Men's Ultimate Club 566
3 Texas Women's Rugby 566
4 UT Archery Club 533
5 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 377
Ended
Leaderboard
Kick Off Challenge
The top three colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts on September 22 from 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM CDT 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 Texas Trap and Skeet 164
2 $750 Texas Women's Rugby 162
3 $250 UT Archery Club 58
4 Texas Orange Jackets 14
5 Gender and Sexuality Center 8
Ended
2
Match
First Student Support Power Hour Day One
Gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students to student support initiatives will be matched until $5,000 is exhausted on September 22 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM CDT.
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Big Give Match
The first $10,000 in gifts made by UT Austin faculty and staff will receive a match on September 23 from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM CDT. Gifts of any size will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted.
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
$250
3,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 3,000th Gift - $250 award
3,000 / 3,000 Gifts
Completed
$500
5,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 5,000th Gift - $500 award
5,000 / 5,000 Gifts
Completed
$500
7,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 7,000th Gift - $500 award
7,000 / 7,000 Gifts
Completed
2
Match
Student Support Power Hour Day Two
Gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students to student support initiatives will be matched until $5,000 is exhausted on September 23 from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM CDT.
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
Success!
Turn the US Burnt Orange
Keep an eye on the main page’s donation heat map! The donor who completes the map and is the first donor from the 50th state (and DC) will win an additional $400 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.
Completed
Success!
Longhorn Pride Social Media Challenge
Show your Longhorn pride and help the UT area of your choice win $1,000! Add a 40 for Forty sticker to your Instagram story and tag @UTAustinTX.
Completed
Leaderboard
Longhorn Lunch Special Challenge
The top three colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest total dollar amount on September 22 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM CDT will receive an additional award. 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 Center for Leadership and Ethics $20,400.00
2 $750 The School of Architecture $12,150.00
3 $250 College of Natural Sciences $10,915.00
4 Jackson School of Geosciences $6,400.00
5 Landmarks $3,330.00
Ended
2
Match
Student Study Break Match
The first $2,500 in gifts made by currently enrolled UT students will receive a match on September 22 from 10:00 PM – 11:59 PM CDT. Gifts of any size will be matched until the total to be awarded, $2,500, is exhausted.
$2,500 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Hungry Bevo Challenge
The top three colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts on September 23 from noon – 2:00 PM CDT will receive an additional award. 1st place - $1,500 2nd place - $750 3rd place - $250
Rank Prize Hungry Bevo Challenge Gifts
1 $1,500 Texas Trap and Skeet 136
2 $750 Texas Women's Rugby 97
3 $250 Texas Orange Jackets 84
4 UT Men's Ultimate Club 21
5 McCombs School of Business 19
Ended
2
Match
Kendra Scott Match
Gifts to the Kendra Scott WEL Institute will be matched dollar for dollar up to $5,000 from Kendra Scott.
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Surprise Challenge!
The top three colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts on September 23 from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM CDT will receive an additional award! 1st place will receive $1,500 2nd place will receive $750 3rd place will receive $250
Rank Prize Surprise Challenge! Gifts
1 $1,500 UT Men's Ultimate Club 59
2 $750 Texas Trap and Skeet 44
3 $250 Texas Women's Rugby 18
4 Dell Medical School 17
5 Cockrell School of Engineering 15
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Highest Amount of Dollars Received
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 McCombs School of Business $760,495.00
2 Dell Medical School $491,029.00
3 LBJ School of Public Affairs $391,605.53
4 Jackson School of Geosciences $119,449.00
5 University of Texas Libraries $72,404.00
Ended
Success!
International Challenge
Keep an eye on the main page’s international donation heat map! The first donor from each continent will win an additional $250 toward their designation. The donor’s residence country will be determined by the donor heat map function of giving day website and the credit card billing address. $250 per continent, $1,750 total
Completed
2
Match
Second Student Support Power Hour Day One
Gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students to student support initiatives will be matched until $5,000 is exhausted on September 22 from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM CDT.
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
$250
2,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 2,000th Gift - $250 award
2,000 / 2,000 Gifts
Completed
$250
4,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 4,000th Gift - $250 award
4,000 / 4,000 Gifts
Completed
$500
6,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 6,000th Gift - $500 award
6,000 / 6,000 Gifts
Completed
$750
8,000th Gift Milestone Award
To celebrate specific milestones in the campaign, an additional award will be added to the area that receives the following milestone gifts. 8,000th Gift - $750 award
8,000 / 8,000 Gifts
Completed
Success!
US State Challenge
Keep an eye on the main page’s donation heat map! The first donor from each state (and DC) will win an additional $100 toward their designation.
Completed
Success!
Faculty & Staff Pre-Campaign Match
The first $10,000 in payroll deduction pledges, made by UT Austin faculty and staff, between September 1 – September 22 will be matched based upon pledge amount between the first day pledged and December 31, 2021. There is no maximum individual donation amount for this opportunity.
Completed
Success!
Faculty & Staff Challenge
The college, school, unit, or organization with the highest number of donations from any faculty or staff donors will win an additional reward. Prizes will be awarded after the campaign completes when results can be tabulated. Payroll deductions (from September 1 – September 22) and day-of gifts made through the 40 for Forty page will count towards the total. 1st place - $3,000 award | 2nd Place - $1,000 award | 3rd Place - $500 award
Completed
Leaderboard
Happy Horns Happy Hour Challenge
The top three colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts on September 22 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT 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 Trap and Skeet 84
2 $750 Texas Orange Jackets 70
3 $250 UT Archery Club 67
4 Longhorn Band Student Association 51
5 Texas Exes 19
Ended
2
Match
Longhorn Parent Brunch Match
The first $5,000 in gifts made by parents of currently enrolled UT students will receive a match on September 23 from 10:00 AM – noon CDT. Any gift of $250 or less will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted.
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Final Countdown Challenge
The top three colleges, schools, units and organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts on September 23 from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM CDT will receive an additional award! 1st place will receive $5,000 2nd place will receive $1,500 3rd place will receive $1,000
Rank Prize Final Countdown Challenge Gifts
1 $5,000 Texas Trap and Skeet 310
2 $1,500 UT Men's Ultimate Club 217
3 $1,000 Texas Women's Rugby 215
4 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 181
5 UT Archery Club 142
Ended
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