Big Orange Give
Vols support Vols during the Big Orange Give.
UT’s 2025 Big Orange Give on Wednesday, November 5, is the university’s annual 24-hour online challenge for alumni, friends, parents, students, faculty, staff, and fans to show their support for Rocky Top. This year’s university goal is to raise $2.5 million, and our College of Arts and Sciences goal is to exceed last year’s collective donation amount of $125,000—all to support current and future Vols!
Big Orange Give is 24 hours for the whole Volunteer family to come together in support of any area of campus you are passionate about. Give by midnight Eastern on November 5, 2025, to be included in the giving fun. This year, donors of $200 or more will receive an exclusive UT playing cards deck.
Donation matching throughout the day can double the impact of gifts large or small. Last year’s matching reached $169,500 towards the final amount, greatly expanding impact for enhanced student experiences, faculty resources, research, and interdisciplinary programs throughout the arts, humanities, and natural and social sciences.
Students can join the on-campus party at the Welcome Wednesday Big Orange Give Collab Experience, 8 a.m.–noon on the Humanities and Social Sciences Plaza for food, games, prizes, and more.
Arts and Sciences Big Orange Give Matches and Challenges for 2025
- Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War Match: A member of the UT Knoxville Alumni Board of Directors will match gifts to the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift until a total of $1,000 has been reached.
- College of Arts and Sciences Match: A member of the UT Knoxville Alumni Board of Directors will match gifts to the College of Arts and Sciences dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift until a total of $2,500 has been reached.
- College Fund for Arts and Sciences Match: Jim Watkins (’93) will match gifts to the College Fund for Arts and Sciences dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift until a total of $5,000 has been reached.
- Denbo Center for Humanities and the Arts Match: A generous supporter will match gifts to the Denbo Center for Humanities and the Arts dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift until a total of $10,000 has been reached.
- Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (EPS) Match: Gerald and Jane Gulley will match gifts to the EPS Advisory Board Fund dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift, until a total of $500 has been reached.
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Match: Dr. Graham Reynolds (’11) will match gifts to the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Enrichment Fund dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift until a total of $1,000 has been reached.
- English Department Challenge: A generous supporter is challenging alumni and friends for five donors to give to the English Enrichment Fund. The supporter will then give $10,000 to support the English Department.
- Geography and Sustainability Match: Colonel Thomas Von Weisenstein (’89) will match gifts to the Geography and Sustainability Enrichment Fund dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift until a total of $1,000 has been reached.
- Psychology and Neuroscience Match: Jeff Besler (’78, ’83) will match gifts to the Psychology Enrichment Fund dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift until a total of $25,000 has been reached.
- Religious Studies Match: Lillian Mashburn (’65) and retired faculty member John Hodges will match gifts to the Joan Nicoll Riedl Endowment, which supports the Department of Religious Studies, dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift until a total of $5,500 has been reached.
- Teaching Endowment Match: Retired faculty member John Hodges will match gifts supporting teaching excellence in the Department of Religious Studies dollar-for-dollar up to $100 per gift until a total of $2,500 has been reached.
By Randall Brown