MARCH 25, 2022 — The second annual UTSA Giving Day is less than a month away. Scheduled for April 19 and 20, the university-wide event will enable Roadrunner Nation to come together to celebrate the university’s recent momentum—its new Tier One designation, its winning football season and its record-breaking enrollment—by reconnecting and raising record funds to benefit students, faculty and institutional programs.
Similar to the Big Give San Antonio and other days of giving, UTSA Giving Day will unite alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends to “Build the Nest” in support of their favorite colleges and programs. This support keeps UTSA’s many outstanding educational experiences affordable for students.
Six things to know about UTSA Giving Day
To honor the university’s founding year, UTSA will kick off the effort with a Facebook livestream at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 19. The event will feature UTSA Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy; professor Ron Ellis, director of bands and band area coordinator for the UTSA Department of Music; and the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band serving as a lead up to the 10:11 a.m. official start.
UTSA Giving Day concludes with a livestream event at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, that will feature Espy and alumna April Ancira ’03. The UTSA Alumni Association Facebook page and Giving Day website will also broadcast the livestreams.
There was an impressive turnout of 2,217 donors in 2021. The goal this year is 3,000 donors, which is on par with other higher education institutions in the San Antonio area.
Online ambassadors agree to share posts on social media and encourage others to give by sending texts or emails. While not required, by registering online, the ambassador receives a personal URL to track their impact and earn spirit gear like UTSA socks.
Individual donors and companies are sponsoring challenges so that colleges and programs can earn additional funds when people donate. For example, the programs that raise the most dollars or donors overall will earn an additional $5,000. The programs that receive the first and last gifts will receive an additional $500 thanks to Cavender Cares, the community service division of Cavender Auto Group. Donors supporting the UTSA Libraries and UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) can help unlock a challenge grant of $1,000 when 100 donors make gifts.
Additionally, thanks to a generous sponsorship from Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union, magnets with various dollar amounts attached will be hidden across the UTSA Main Campus and can be turned in to earn funding for selected student success initiatives.
At the end of a power hour, the project that engages the most donors will receive an additional $1,000. Power hours are planned for:
Working together, Roadrunner Nation will provide resources for student and faculty success, which impacts the state and beyond, making the value of a UTSA degree even more powerful. Support from the entire UTSA community is vital to the success of UTSA Giving Day.
“Giving days are a proven model in higher education fundraising because they make giving fun and help make a big difference for students and the university,” said Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Karl Miller-Lugo. “Watching the totals go up last year inspired many in Roadrunner Nation to join in, help build the nest and be part of this exciting opportunity.”
Participants can direct gifts to projects across the university, including all academic colleges, the UTSA Libraries and the ITC, the Southwest School of Art, the Spirit of San Antonio, UTSA Athletics, Friends of Music, Black Student Initiatives, the Student Emergency Fund, the UTSA Family Fund, UTSA Alumni Association scholarships and more. Every dollar—100%—goes where the donor directs.
The Student Emergency Fund provides financial assistance when students are unable to meet expenses because of temporary hardship related to an emergency situation. In 2021, including gifts on UTSA Giving Day, the Student Emergency Fund awarded 190 grants for more than $60,000 to UTSA students in need. Medical and prescription bills, utilities and rent were major concerns for students who lost their jobs or other financial support because of the pandemic.
“My dad couldn't work for weeks. I got a second job because of how much it affected me financially,” said UTSA junior Emma Nguyen from the UTSA Carlos Alvarez College of Business. “With the Student Emergency Fund, I was able to really get back on my feet and catch up with all my bills. Without the Student Emergency Fund, I would've had to drop out for at least a semester. With the help of donors, people like me can afford to attend the university and become successful.”
Reaching 3,000 donors
Online gifts will be tracked on the UTSA Giving Day website, which will include the overall progress to 3,000 donors as well as totals for colleges and key programs from across the university. Leaderboards on the website will highlight the colleges and projects with the greatest number of donors and dollars raised, and those units will have an opportunity to earn additional funds. UTSA and the UTSA Alumni Association social media pages will provide regular updates. Only gifts made online on April 19 and 20 will count toward challenges.
“Our community loves a challenge, and I know that our alumni, donors, parents, faculty, staff and students all want to see us reach the 3,000-donor goal this year because of the impact it will have on UTSA, especially the students,” Miller-Lugo said. “UTSA is making bold moves and achieving outstanding results. I encourage anyone who wants to see the awesome momentum of the last year continue to participate in UTSA Giving Day.”
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