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LLILAS Benson
Help Establish the Digital Scholarship Program Endowment

Who We Are

LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections is a cutting-edge intellectual institution committed to increasing awareness of Latin American history, art, and culture through high-quality programming, research, and education. The LLILAS Benson partnership unites one of the world’s premier libraries of Latin American materials, the Nettie Lee Benson Collection, with the globally renowned Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) to combine library resources with academic programs and research initiatives.

The collaboration between these two top-tier organizations has unlocked exciting new opportunities for digital scholarship and the advancement of Latin American Studies on a global scale.  

What We're Fundraising For

Join us in establishing an endowment to support and expand the LLILAS Benson Digital Scholarship Program! By donating today, you contribute to an endowment that will support Digital Scholarship for years to come.  

Harnessing the potential of technology, the LLILAS Benson Digital Scholarship Program aims to promote the critical and ethical application of digital methods in the study of Latin American, U.S. Latine, African Diaspora, and Indigenous communities while fostering connection and collaboration across institutions and organizations of higher learning in the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean. 

Endowments are investment funds whose compounding interest is directed to support a specific cause. Unlike a one-time donation that disappears once it has been spent down, an endowment's support is evergreen. The annual accumulation of interest will be used for ongoing support of a cause for its entire life. Because of this, the LLILAS Benson Digital Scholarship Endowment has the capacity to fund and grow this program for years to come!

The Digital Scholarship Fund will support the education of students, faculty, and communities at UT Austin and beyond in digital literacy and research skills.  

Albert A. Palacios, LLILAS Benson Digital Scholarship Coordinator, leads a workshop on digital mapping using maps showcased in the traveling "Mapping Mexican History" exhibition at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Your Impact
The advancement of technology in academics is redefining research and accessibility in education and reshaping how we think, study, and interact with the past. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we implement these tools to promote and preserve Latin American history and culture in the modern digital age. 

Albert A. Palacios and 2019 Digital Scholarship Intern Mounika Puligurthi discussing her internship project at the LLILAS Benson Digital Scholarship LabLLILAS Benson is committed to expanding access to education within Latin American Studies, and advancing Digital Scholarship is crucial to this mission. Our Digital Scholarship Program serves students, faculty, and the broader community through public programming, curricular design, and the digitization of premier materials from the Benson Collection. By donating today, you contribute to the advancement of Latin American Studies as we move into an ever-changing digital age.
Digital Map of renowned Relaciones Geográficas at the Benson.Thank you for your support!


Leaderboard
Final Countdown Challenge
The five participating colleges, schools, units or organizations that receive the greatest number of gifts within the designated period will receive an additional award! April 11, 8 – 10 p.m. Central 1st place – $2,000 | 2nd place – $1,500 | 3rd place – $1,000 | 4th place – $750 | 5th place – $250
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $2,000 Texas Trap and Skeet 356
2 $1,500 Texas Crew 304
3 $1,000 UT Child Development Center Leona 257
4 $750 Texas Women's Rugby 103
5 $250 Liberal Arts Council 88
Ended
$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
Completed
$750
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 – $750 award
7,000 / 7,000 Gifts
Completed
2
Match
Saddle Up Surprise Match
Surprise! Here is another match for 40 for Forty! The first $7,500 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $7,500, is exhausted. April 11, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Central
$7,500 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Raising the Bar Challenge
The ten participating colleges, schools, units or organizations that have the largest percentage increase in number of gifts from the previous year within the designated period will receive an additional award! Participation only available to groups that had one or more donations during the prior campaign. March 27, 6 a.m. Central – April 11, 10 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department % +/- Goal
1 $6,000 Longhorn Powerlifting +5400.00% 55
goal: 1
2 $4,300 UT iGEM Team +3466.67% 107
goal: 3
3 $3,500 Communication Studies Graduate Community +2650.00% 55
goal: 2
4 $3,000 UT Women's and Nonbinary Ultimate Frisbee +2275.00% 95
goal: 4
5 $2,500 Prison and Jail Innovation Lab +1850.00% 39
goal: 2
Ended
Leaderboard
Day 2 Leaderboard: Gifts
The five participating colleges, schools, units or organizations with the greatest number of gifts raised during the second day of 40 for Forty will receive awards! April 11, midnight – 10 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $1,000 Texas Crew 510
2 $750 Texas Trap and Skeet 379
3 $500 UT Child Development Center Leona 264
4 $250 Chapters & Networks 193
5 $100 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 178
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Highest Amount of Dollars Received
The participating college, school, unit or organization with the highest number of dollars raised will be listed on the leaderboard for bragging rights only.
Rank Department Raised
1 McCombs School of Business $8,409,843.00
2 Department of Mathematics $1,601,405.00
3 Jackson School of Geosciences $623,850.00
4 College of Natural Sciences $515,570.24
5 Texas Athletics $508,441.00
Ended
2
Match
Decade of Difference Kickoff Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5-$500 will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 10, 6 – 9 a.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Mid-Morning Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5-$500 will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 10, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
LLILAS Benson Advisory Council Match
The first $16,000 in gifts to the Digital Scholarship Program will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to the generosity of our LLILAS Benson Advisory Council!
Completed
2
Match
Midnight Madness Match
The first $7,500 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $7,500, is exhausted. April 11, midnight – 7 a.m. Central
$7,500 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Morning Mojo Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 11, 7 – 10 a.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Cheers to 10 Years Final Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students within this period will be matched! Gifts from $5-$500 will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 11, 4 – 8 p.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
$750
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 – $750 award
Completed
Leaderboard
Hungry, Hungry Bevo Challenge (General)
The three participating colleges, schools, units or programs that receive the greatest number of unique donors within the designated period will receive an additional award. The award designation will be determined by the receiving participating group. April 11, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $2,000 UT Child Development Center Comal 20
2 $1,000 McCombs School of Business 15
3 $500 Texas Exes 12
4 Kendra Scott WEL Institute 10
5 School of Human Ecology 9
Ended
2
Match
Happy Horns Happy Hour Match
The first $10,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $10,000, is exhausted. April 10, 4 – 8 p.m. Central
$10,000 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Longhorn Lunch Special Challenge (General)
The three participating colleges, schools, units or programs that receive the greatest number of gifts within the designated period will receive an additional award. April 10, 1 – 4 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $2,000 UT Child Development Center Lavaca 51
2 $1,000 Texas Exes 15
3 $500 Jackson School of Geosciences 12
4 McCombs School of Business 11
5 Moody College of Communication 11
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Greatest Number of Unique Donors
The participating college, school, unit or organization with the greatest number of unique donors will be listed on the leaderboard for bragging rights only.
Rank Department Donors
1 Texas Crew 230
2 2024 Class Gift 213
3 McCombs School of Business 144
4 The University of Texas Weightlifting Team 137
5 Texas Exes 133
Ended
Leaderboard
University-Wide Leaderboard: Greatest Number of Gifts Received
The participating college, school, unit or organization with the greatest number of gifts will be listed on the leaderboard for bragging rights only.
Rank Department Gifts
1 Texas Crew 794
2 Texas Trap and Skeet 502
3 UT Child Development Center Leona 275
4 Chapters & Networks 229
5 2024 Class Gift 215
Ended
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Big Give Match (Day 1)
The first $5,000 in gifts from UT faculty and staff members made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. April 10, 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. Central
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Day 1 Leaderboard: Unique Donors
The five participating colleges, schools, units or organizations with the greatest number of unique donors during the first day of 40 for Forty will receive awards! April 10, 6 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. Central
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1,000 Texas Crew 93
2 $750 McCombs School of Business 81
3 $500 UT iGEM Team 65
4 $250 Texas Exes 54
5 $100 Longhorn Racing 53
Ended
2
Match
Longhorn Late-Night Match
The first $5,000 in gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and students made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. April 10, 8 – 11:59 p.m. Central
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
2
Match
Faculty & Staff Big Give Match (Day 2)
The first $5,000 in gifts from UT faculty and staff members made within this period will be matched! Gifts of $5 and above will be matched until the total to be awarded, $5,000, is exhausted. April 11, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Central
$5,000 MATCHED
Completed
Success!
Pre-Campaign Ambassador Sign-up Challenge
The three participating colleges, schools, units or organizations with the most verified 40 for Forty ambassadors registered by April 9 at 5 p.m. will receive an additional award! February 5, 6 a.m. Central – April 9, 5 p.m. Central 1st Place – $1,000 award | 2nd Place – $500 award | 3rd Place – $250 award
Completed
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