big orange give
NOVEMBER 5, 2025
UT’s annual day of giving is here!
Your Impact
It was a time of celebration during Big Orange Give 2025. For more than 10 years, donors have generously given to support scholarships, department funds, Student Life initiatives, research, arts and culture, athletics, and more. In 2025, we asked Vol Nation to raise $2.5 million in 24 hours, and you answered the call by raising over $2.6 million.
By the Numbers
7,700 donors
$2.6 million raised
3,257 alumni donors
592 student donors
734 faculty and staff donors
886 parent donors
69 alumni classes represented
49 states + DC represented
8 countries represented
Top Funds Supported
1. Big Orange Pantry Fund
2. Band Scholarship Fund
3. College Fund for Haslam Business
4. Theotis Robinson Jr. Flagship Pathway Scholarship Endowment
5. UT Gardens Forever Flourish Endowment
Learn More About the Top 3 Funds
This fund supports the Big Orange Pantry, a campus-wide resource providing students, faculty, and staff with non-perishable and fresh foods, hygiene products, and other essential items that address basic needs. A campus assessment conducted in Spring 2023 revealed that 1 in 3 UTK students experiences some degree of food insecurity, making the pantry a key support system. With more than 40,000 shopping visits last academic year across the Student Union location and satellite sites, this fund ensures shelves remain stocked so that student, faculty, and staff can have their essentials met to be successful members of the Volunteer community. To learn more, visit http://studentlife.utk.edu/basic-needs/big-orange-pantry/
This fund supports scholarships for members of the Pride of the Southland Band, helping ensure students can participate in one of the university’s most visible and historic traditions. For more than 150 years, the Pride has united Volunteers, inspired fans, and carried the Volunteer Spirit to audiences across the nation. Scholarship support helps band members pursue their education while representing the university at performances, events, and national stages, sustaining the legacy and excellence of this program. To learn more about the Pride of the Southland Band, visit: https://utbands.utk.edu/
With the exponential growth of the Haslam College of Business, philanthropy is more vital than ever. The College Fund provides immediate access to resources as needs arise throughout the year. From emergency scholarships for students facing unexpected needs, to experiential learning opportunities that would not otherwise be possible, your investment has a ripple effect on the 11,000 students we serve each and every day. To learn more about the Haslam College of Business, visit: https://haslam.utk.edu/
Matches & Challenges
Matches and challenges throughout the day inspired even more giving, unlocking $530,000 in additional donations through more than 60 match and challenge gifts.
Thank you to our Match & Challenge donors
- Jeff Abbott (’93)
- Robert Adamo (’97) and Kira McKeown-Adamo (’97)
- Army ROTC Alumni Council
- ASTROrdinary Dobbs Foundation
- Nannette Baker (’78)
- BCN Research Laboratories
- Terry (’69), (’74) and Connie Begley
- Jeff Belser (’78), (’83)
- Matthew (’97) and Stephanie Boomhower (’97), (’99)
- Jenn Buntin (’09)
- Jackie Cavnar (’94)
- CCI Board of Visitors
- Dr. Jefferson Chapman
- Dr. Jimmy G. Cheek
- Dr. Peter “Doc” Claussen III (’95), (’16)
- College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board
- College of Veterinary Medicine Advisory Board
- Harold Conner (’68), (’78)
- Bennett Croswell (’79)
- Scot Danforth and Dawn Chesser
- Martin DeRita (’72)
- Josh Dobbs (’17)
- Mike Dodd (’95)
- Enterprise Sensor Systems, LLC
- George Ewart (’88)
- Cynthia Finch (’79), (’81)
- Stephanie Frazier (‘91)
- Sierra Garvin (’17)
- Dr. Rafael Gonzalez and Connie Gonzalez
- Matthew Gregory (’96)
- Jason Gregg (’95)
- Gerald Gulley (’89) and Jane Gulley
- Greg Hagy (’93)
- Billy Haley (’06)
- Charles Hankins (’79), (’98)
- Clay Hart (’00)
- Judith Anderson Herbert (’63)
- Logan Hickman (’80), (’92)
- Dr. John Hodges (’63)
- Daniel Hurst (’85), (’94)
- Dr. John Jared (’69), (’73)
- Ben Keras (’99)
- Laura (Mitchell) Lane (’87) and Bill Lane (’85)
- Rebecca Little (’62)
- Curt Maggitt (’14), (’20)
- Lillian Mashburn (’65)
- Patrick Min (’83), (’84)
- Larry Murphy (’86), (’14)
- McClung Museum Board
- Gary McCormick
- Melissa McKown (’81)
- Ruth Henderson McQueen (’73), (’75)
- Bob (’80) and Kelly Murphy
- Natalie L. Haslam College of Music Board of Advisors
- Sunshine Parker (’04), (’06), (’14)
- Chad and April Pearson
- Reggie Porter (’97), (’00)
- Premier Home Inspection
- Brion Randolph (’95), (’97), (’25)
- Lisa Reed (’86)
- Dr. Graham Reynolds (’11)
- Karen Robinson (’81)
- Dr. Tracie Salinas (’99)
- John (’67) and Linda Shoemaker
- Debby Shriver (’72), (’78)
- Professor Rita Hoyt Smith
- Lofton Stuart (’71) and Jon Brock (’78)
- Wiliam (Bill) Sullivan (’91), (’96) and Carey Sullivan (’98)
- Lee Ann Furrow-Tolsma (’02) and John Tolsma
- Pamela Cannella Treacy
- Freida Trotter (’81)
- UT Knoxville Alumni Board of Directors
- Professor Teresa Walker (’94)
- Jim Watkins (’93)
- Aimee Watson (’98), (’00)
- Col. Thomas Von Weisenstein (’89)
- Dean David White
- Paul (’93) and Mary Wilson (’92)
- Winston College of Law Alumni Council
- Winston College of Law Dean’s Circle
- Ken Winston (’75)
- Deb Woolley (’70)
- Amber Young (’03)
- Donnovan Young (’85)
Competition Results
Competitions generated an additional $339,551 from 2,383 donors supporting
student organizations across four categories. The winners in each category were:
Student Organizations
$93,608 raised
793 donors
Winners:
- Student Space Technology Association
- Cycling Club
- PRSSA
- Engineering Youth
- Cornhole Club
RecSports
$34,518 raised
547 donors
Winners:
- Men’s Volleyball
- Wrestling Club
- Women’s Ice Hockey
- Women’s Volleyball
- Men’s Crew Team
Sorority and Fraternity Life
$27,854 raised
389 donors
Winners:
U Division
- Zeta Phi Beta
- Alpha Gamma Rho
- Alpha Kappa Alpha
- Alpha Phi Alpha
- Delta Sigma Theta
T Division
1. Sigma Nu
2. Delta Gamma
3T. Phi Kappa Tau
3T. Sigma Chi
5.Sigma Kappa
Alumni Chapter and Council Scholarships
$183,571 raised
627 donors
Winners:
- Army ROTC Alumni Council
- UTK Alumni Knoxville Chapter
- UTK Black Alumni Council
- Philadelphia PA Alumni Chapter
- UTK Alumni Band Council
History
2023
## donors
## million raised
## first-time donors
## student donors
## faculty and staff donors
2022
11,114 donors
$2.7 million raised
1,855 first-time donors
792 student donors
923 faculty and staff donors
2021
9,670 donors
$3 million raised
1,509 new donors
1,875 first-time donors
771 student donors
789 faculty and staff donors
2020
8,095 donors
$2.55 million raised
1,032 first-time donors
405 student donors
692 faculty and staff donors
2019
6,869 donors
$2.55 million raised
1,509 new donors
507 Student donors
2018
6,455 donors
$2.14 million raised
1,026 first-time donors
460 student donors
2017
4,999 donors
$1.45 million raised
1,629 first-time donors
2016
4,162 donors
$1.52 million raised
649 first-time donors
2015
4,103 donors
$1.46 million raised
946 first-time donors
2014
1,566 donors
$766,330 raised
327 first-time donors
2013
1,630 donors
$250,105 raised
273 first-time donors
7,700 donors
$2.6 million raised
1,843 first-time donors
592 student donors
734 faculty and staff donors
11,114 donors
$3.5 million raised
2,093 first-time donors
1,176 student donors
1,015 faculty and staff donors
11,114 donors
$2.7 million raised
1,855 first-time donors
792 student donors
923 faculty and staff donors
9,670 donors
$3 million raised
1,509 new donors
1,875 first-time donors
771 student donors
789 faculty and staff donors
8,095 donors
$2.55 million raised
1,032 first-time donors
405 student donors
692 faculty and staff donors
6,869 donors
$2.55 million raised
1,509 new donors
507 Student donors
6,455 donors
$2.14 million raised
1,026 first-time donors
460 student donors
4,999 donors
$1.45 million raised
1,629 first-time donors
4,162 donors
$1.52 million raised
649 first-time donors
4,103 donors
$1.46 million raised
946 first-time donors
1,566 donors
$766,330 raised
327 first-time donors
1,630 donors
$250,105 raised
273 first-time donors
