Giving with Impact Returns to UTD Campus

Launched in 2017, the University’s Comets Giving Days has grown into a major campus tradition as thousands of students, alumni, employees, parents and corporate and private supporters come together for two days in support of nearly 150 campus organizations. This year Comets Giving Days takes place April 3-4 as the UTD community works to beat last year’s record $2.5 million in giving.

“Comets Giving Days is a great time for the entire UT Dallas community to, as this year’s slogan says, COMETogether and Go for the Gold,” said Brennae Wright, senior director of alumni and annual giving programming. “With so many areas of campus participating, Comets Giving Days has grown to be a wonderful tradition and an example of what’s possible when University supporters join forces.”

Comets Giving Days donations have grown steadily since its first year when the then one-day event raised nearly $200,000. In 2023, donations reached $2.5 million. Of the gifts University groups receive during Comets Giving Days, 87 percent come from donations under $100 with the average gift being $32.46. In total, gifts received since 2017 have reached just over $8.4 million.

This year nearly 150 campus groups and academic organizations are participating. The group that, to date, has received the most in giving is the Comet Cupboard, a campus food pantry for UTD students in need of assistance. Other gift recipients include UTD Service Dogs in Training, a canine companions-affiliated organization and University Emergency Medical Response, a student-staffed first responder organization.

Academic programs are also eligible to receive donations during Comets Giving Days. Programs and schools like the Center for BrainHealth, the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology, the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies and the Naveen Jindal School of Management are just a few of the academic-focused groups that each year receive funding during the event.

Throughout Comets Giving Days, matching gift opportunities and challenges will multiply the impact of individual donations. Specific challenges will unlock at various times, and supporters can view opportunities to extend their gift.

“Going into the eighth year, we are looking forward to more challenges, matches and leaderboards to encourage everyone to be a part of Comets Giving Days this year,” Wright said. “With goals to continue making even bigger impacts for our groups, one thing remains, we want everyone who loves UT Dallas to be a part of these two incredible days of giving.”

Visit givingday.utdallas.edu to learn about challenges and matching gift opportunities, find organizations accepting donations and to make a gift.