Texas Tech Day of Giving is quickly approaching; this is your moment to make a meaningful difference across campus.
As another West Texas sunrise crests the horizon, students, faculty and staff at Texas Tech University begin their day.
Cans clank together as a student assistant stocks shelves in Raider Red’s Food Pantry.
Dust kicks up behind the School of Veterinary Medicine Community and Regional Engagement Service (CARES) mobile unit as it departs to provide aid to animals throughout West Texas and the Panhandle.
School buses park and giggles resound through the National Ranching Heritage Center parking lot as students eagerly await a day spent at the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center.
One student turns this way and that in front of a car mirror in the parking lot, making sure professional attire purchased through the Rawls Dress for Success Scholarship lies just right before entering the career fair.
While each of these members of the Texas Tech and broader Lubbock community is starting their day differently, they all share a common bond: Texas Tech Day of Giving donors have made an impact on their lives.
Texas Tech will host its fourth Day of Giving on March 24-25. For 1,923 minutes, Red Raiders rally together to have a collective impact, changing lives and strengthening the community.
“Day of Giving has become one of my favorite traditions,” said Byron Kennedy, vice president for advancement. “It’s inspiring to see alumni, friends and family come together to support programs and initiatives that are so meaningful to them. During this event, the strength and unity of the Red Raider family is on full display. You can see the collective impact they are having on our students, faculty, staff, campus and community in real time.”
The 2026 Texas Tech Day of Giving will feature more than 100 funds from colleges, schools and units across campus. From those that transform lives and fuel academic excellence, to those that elevate our campus and community and build champions, there are options that resonate with everyone.
With so many choices available, we gathered seven unique programs where your gift – whether $5, $50 or $5,000 – can create an immediate and lasting impact.
- Companion Animal Science Education & Research Fund
Our pets can be some of the most beloved companions in our lives, and at the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, a team of faculty and graduate students is dedicated to researching them.
Gifts to this initiative enable hands-on learning and innovative research for students studying companion animal behavior and training. Beyond supporting equipment, supplies, travel and other research costs, donations directly help students earn animal training certifications and acquire the skills needed for careers in related fields. Contributions also help maintain and enhance the training spaces used for student learning and canine training seminars, benefiting both students and the broader community.
- Vet School Office of Clinical Programs Support Fund
The mission of Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine is to serve rural and regional communities, and students begin fulfilling that goal before they even walk the stage. Fourth-year veterinary students spend their entire final year completing immersive clinical rotations at partner sites across Texas and New Mexico, gaining real-world experience and hands-on training while serving their communities.
The Office of Clinical Programs Support Fund guarantees students have the resources they need to succeed in this clinical year. This fund offers fourth-year scholarships, travel and housing support and more for both students and our clinical partners, ensuring future veterinarians can focus on learning rather than financial strain. - Student Mental Health Community
The Student Mental Health Community at Texas Tech is striving to create a community and campus where mental health is valued, stigma is challenged and no student has to face struggles alone. Donations support peer-led support groups, wellness workshops, crisis-prevention resources and community-building events that make a real difference in students’ lives.
Every gift to this fund helps ensure students feel seen, supported, connected and empowered when they need it most, building a healthier, more resilient Red Raider community. - Rawls College Student Support Fund
When life’s emergencies threaten to derail a student’s education, the Rawls College Student Support Fund is there to bridge the gap. This fund helps cover essential needs, including housing, food, transportation, medical expenses and other urgent costs that could otherwise disrupt academic progress. Every dollar raised for this fund goes directly to providing timely support—helping students stay focused and advance toward their academic and professional goals during moments of need. Gifts ensure temporary setbacks do not become lasting barriers to success.
This year, the Rawls Recent Alumni Board has issued a challenge to current students. If 100 students donate any amount to the Rawls College Student Support Fund on Day of Giving, the board will contribute $1,000.
- Communication Studies Debate Fund for Excellence
Did you know that Texas Tech has a debate team? Not only does the university have one, but it’s also one of the most successful programs in the country. Gifts to the Communication Studies Debate Fund for Excellence help equip students with the skills needed to become advocates who base their arguments on the best available evidence and research on real-world issues. Donations directly support students’ success by providing the resources necessary to travel to competitions and represent Texas Tech on regional and national stages.
SGA Fund - Student Government Association Fund for Excellence
Texas Tech’s Student Government Association (SGA) works hard to make sure every Red Raider feels heard and at home on campus and in Lubbock. As the voice of the students, more than 150 volunteers and elected officers work together to engage the student population despite limited funding and rising costs. Funds toward SGA ensure their ability to serve campus and the growing student population. As funding challenges grow, sustaining the traditions that define the Red Raider experience has become increasingly difficult for this group.
Your support for the Student Government Fund for Excellence ensures that more than 5,000 new and returning students can gather to form a Double-T at the eagerly anticipated “First Photo,” that seniors can celebrate their final campus event by taking the 1,923 steps to Urbanovsky Park during “Graduation Walk,” and that disadvantaged children can experience Red Raider spirit through the “Take a Kid to the Game” partnership with Athletics. Every gift helps SGA provide leadership opportunities, signature programs and enhanced events — strengthening our community and bringing smiles to faces across campus and Lubbock. - Spirit Programs
When you think of your favorite Texas Tech tradition, it most likely involves our spirit squads. Spirit Programs are home to many enthusiastic students whose Red Raider pride is essential to maintaining these traditions we know and love. These funds ensure our cheerleaders, pom squad, Masked Riders, Raider Reds, Saddle Tramps and High Riders have what they need to celebrate Red Raider wins near and far.
No matter what fund you choose to support on Day of Giving on March 24-25, you’re showing your Red Raider spirit by giving back and taking part in a movement that ensures our university’s legacy ON&ON.