What is ContribUTe? 

ContribUTe is a university-wide student giving campaign led by The University of Texas at Austin Student Foundation. During the month of October, students are encouraged to give back to the university, not only to address urgent issues that affect students, but also to promote a culture of philanthropy across campus. Currently, 1 in 3 students have unmet financial need. In addition, 1 in 4 UT students struggle with food insecurity. For many Longhorns, classes and exams are not the hardest part of the college experience. It’s not knowing where your next nutritious meal will come from, getting access to mental health care and overcoming the unforeseen emergencies that life can throw at you.

Where can I donate?

• Student Emergency Services (SES)
  • Student Emergency Services Fund: ​The Student Emergency Fund provides limited emergency financial support to currently enrolled students who are unable to meet their essential expenses due to a temporary or unexpected hardship, such as a natural disaster, family emergency or crime. Expenses considered for Student Emergency Fund support include utilities, medication expenses, books or school related expenses, replacement of belongings lost in a fire/natural disaster, and safety-related needs such as changing locks or emergency shelter.
  • UT Outpost; Food Pantry & Career Closet - : Hunger and food insecurity on our campus is real. One in four UT students has experienced food insecurity, and UT Outpost combats that need by making nutritious food readily available to students. Additionally, the Outpost offers free professional clothing  to students  for interviews, internships and jobs
• Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC): Provides counseling, psychiatric, consultation, and prevention services that facilitate students' academic and life goals and enhance their personal growth and well-being.
  • Voices Against Violence Survivors Emergency Fund: VAV aims to provide the campus with tools to identify and interrupt interpersonal violence, support survivors, and build a campus that values and promotes healthy relationships and consent.
  • Suicide Prevention Fund: Supporting the Prevention Fund helps CMHC continue their work with the campus community to recognize warning signs for suicide and to develop strategies for intervening with students in distress.
  • Mental Health Research: Gifts to the Mental Health Research and Suicide Prevention Initiative directly contribute to life-saving resources, prevention research, and programs.
  • Area of Greatest Need:  Each year, CMHC experiences an increased demand for counseling services.  To accommodate this large influx of students in need, the center depends on gifts from the UT community for operational support.

If the area to which you would like to donate is not listed, please select "Other" and type in your selection on the next page.  

How can you help? You can give any amount to the area of campus that means the most to you! Any amount makes an impact.

• $10 provides meals for a student for one week.
• $10 provides a student with 1 hour in one of the MindBody Labs.
• $18.83 provides a peer education workshop about stress management to a student org.
• $25 would cover the cost of groceries for one student facing an emergency.
• $25 covers the cost of a phone call to the CMHC Crisis Line.
• $75 provides suicide prevention training for a student organization.
• $100 can cover lost or stolen prescription replacements.
• $150 provides a week’s worth of fresh produce for UT Outpost.
• $250 provides 5 nights of shelter for a student in crisis.
• $500 can help replace textbooks that have been stolen or lost in a fire.
• $500 provides a series of group counseling sessions to students.
• $2000 covers Suicide Prevention Week.
• $5,000 is enough to provide relocation costs to 15 students after an emergency.

Why $18.83?

The University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883. We have chosen this amount to showcase the impact that even small donations can have on campus. $18.83 can help provide meals to a student in need. It can help build the Suicide Prevention Fund or support mental health research on campus. It can stock nutritious essentials in our food pantry so that one less student will struggle with food insecurity. The impact of $18.83 is bigger than you think. Let’s show the world what can happen when we support each other. ContribUTe today!

Who Are We?

Student Foundation is a student-run organization sponsored by Texas Development that promotes university-wide philanthropy through giving campaigns, education events, and leadership development.

Rhiannon Pytlak 

"I choose to contribUTe because I know that my small gift can make a huge difference in the lives of others that are struggling to have their basic needs met."

Katherine Chen 

"This campaign means a lot to me because it’s important to me that students in need are supported. No one deserves to go to bed hungry, lose a place to live from a fire, or deal with mental health issues alone. As a community, it’s our job to come together and help our peers, especially in times of crises."

Jonathan Cope

"I contribUTe to support a community that has helped me pursue my dreams. I hope that my contribution will help provide the necessities for one of my fellow peers or classmates, so that they too can pursue their dreams and aspirations."

Keerthana Chakka

"I have been passionate about philanthropy for a large part of my college career because I believe that fundraising has the potential to truly improve the college experience of generations to come, and can be used to help those in need."

Ivana Jelenszky 

"I feel passionate about contributing to causes like suicide prevention on campus because I understand that sometimes finding the right resources is the only difference between life and death."

Ruben Salazar

"As a young artist, humanitarian and entrepreneur, I embrace philanthropy and humanitarianism as I am aware that my life and career will always revolve around that– helping people."