VOLstarter
Welcome to UT’s crowdfunding platform where students, faculty, and staff can raise money to ignite change. VOLstarter has helped fund scholarships, competition and conference expenses, equipment costs, intern stipends, and more through direct network support.
Find a Projectignite change. Fund what matters.
YOUR SUPPORT PROVIDES THE MOMENTUM students NEED TO TRANSFORM BOLD VISIONS INTO REAL-WORLD RESULTS.
Find a Project
Each project is affiliated with UT and nonprofit in nature, either sponsored by a UT department, program, center, or official student organization to which donations are deposited.
VOL Figure Skating
Help make collegiate competitions more accessible to student skaters while providing opportunities for personal growth, teamwork, and athletic achievement.
Support This Project
Big Orange Combine
Hosted by the Haslam College of Business, this opportunity provides students professional development experience at Super Bowl LXI.
Support This Project
Arts and Culture Collective
Gifts to these four organizations help preserve resources, strengthen our community, and create experiences that inspire discovery.
Support This Project
UT Black Women in Medicine
Donors help expand access to resources and opportunities and foster greater representation for women of color pursuing healthcare careers.
Support This Project
UT Air Force ROTC
Support cadet leadership development, professional experiences, and detachment pride.
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Law Women
Help UT law students pursue valuable opportunities, reach their professional goals, and serve communities through public-interest work
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Big Orange Pantry
Ensure that our shelves are well-stocked so that students, faculty, and staff can have their essentials met to be successful members of the Volunteer community
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Basic Needs Emergency Fund
Give to UTK students in need due to a crisis or unexpected event that limits their ability to support their basic needs.
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Men’s Rugby Endowment
Strengthen the future of Tennessee Men’s Rugby and honor a tradition built on excellence, camaraderie, and passion.
Support This Project
how it works
Apply
UT students, faculty, and/or staff apply to fund a project on VOLstarter. Provide key details to help our team understand your project’s purpose and potential.
Submit an ApplicationReview
Every VOLstarter application is reviewed to ensure projects are university-affiliated, well-defined, and positioned for success. Our team works with project leaders to help create the best possible experience for both donors and project teams before a campaign goes live.
Donate
Approved projects will be featured on the VOLstarter website for a minimum of 30 days to accept donations. Project leaders can reference this toolkit to help get their project fully funded.
View ToolkitFAQ
Your donation will be deposited with the University of Tennessee Foundation and distributed to the department, program, center, or official student organization that is leading the gifted project.
- Go to the project page you wish to support.
- Click the “Support this Project” button.
- Enter your gift amount.
- Fill out your information.
- Click “Next” and enter your payment information.
- Click “Next” to review your information.
- Click the “Confirm” button and you’re done!
Yes, contributions through VOLstarter support specific areas of the university and are therefore eligible for income tax deductions, as allowed by law.
Yes, the UT Foundation will send you a gift receipt via email for tax purposes.
Your credit card will be charged immediately upon finalizing your gift on the website.
Please call (865) 974-3011 or email volstarter@utk.edu with any questions.
Yes, all VOLstarter gifts made within the current fiscal year (July 1–June 30) count toward your senior impact gift. Go Vols!
Yes. However, it can take several months for employers’ matching funds to reach the UT Foundation. In the event the match does not arrive before the project deadline, it will be applied to the respective club or organization’s account for future projects.
No. One hundred percent of each donation goes directly towards the project’s monetary goal.
The Tax ID for the UT Foundation is 62-1844686.
By making a charitable gift to the UT Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, the donor understands that charitable donations are not refundable.
All donations given to a project will be distributed to the project leaders, regardless of whether the set goal is reached.
Turn Your Vision into Impact
Whether you’re enhancing student experiences, advancing research, supporting a program, or expanding opportunities for others, VOLstarter can help bring your project to life.
Submit a VOLstarter Application