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Virginia Tech Giving Day

During Giving Day, our community comes together to directly support Industrial Design students. Every dollar creates greater equity and opens doors to meaningful opportunities.

What is Giving Day? And what is Giving Season?

Giving Day is Virginia Tech’s official 24-hour fundraising event, taking place this year from February 18–19, 2026 (noon to noon EST). For us — the Industrial Design Advisory Board — it’s the one time each year we ask for your support, and all of it goes directly to students in the Industrial Design program.


This year, we’re trying something new. In the spirit of the holidays, we’re opening up what we’re calling Giving Season — a longer window for giving that gives folks more flexibility. Maybe you have company funds to allocate before the end of the year, or maybe you’re planning charitable giving for 2026 right now. Whatever the case, this early window makes it easier to jump in. Life happens, and we get it — so why limit the ways our community can show up for students?

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Why your support matters

VTID students are resourceful, ambitious, and all-in on design. They’re building the next generation of design professionals — and with your support, they can do even more.

 

Studio projects, travel programs, and skill-building experiences all take time and money — and not everyone starts with the same access. Every dollar raised through Giving Season supports student awards that help close those financial gaps and open doors to opportunities that matter.

Our 2026 goals

This year, we’re aiming to raise $8,500 from 100 individual donors. Based on what we raise, we’ll fund a range of student awards to meet their needs — from travel and project-related costs to professional development.


Last year, we created awards in travel and academic support.

How to support

You can give anytime during Giving Season — now through Giving Day, February 18–19, 2026. Most of our supporters will give during the official 24-hour event, but early donations are welcome, too.

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If you plan to give early, there are a few quick steps to make sure your gift is counted toward our Giving Day totals:

  • Before Dec 31, 2025
    Gifts must be $500+ and coordinated directly with a university gift officer, Zoe Lampros (zlampros@vt.edu) or her supervisor Julia Allen (juliapallen@vt.edu).

  • Early 2026 (before Feb 18–19)
    Gifts will need to go through a special early giving link from Virginia Tech. That link will go live sometime in January and will be updated here once available.​​

Why give early?

  • Your company or department may have unspent budget to allocate before year-end

  • This is when many teams plan 2026 charitable giving and match programs

  • Giving early helps us build momentum and plan awards with more clarity

  • As a favor to us, early contributions give the campaign a stronger start

Other ways to give

Not every contribution has to be financial. If you want to help spread the word, here are a few low-lift ways to make an impact:

  • Ask about matching: Many companies — especially larger ones — offer donation matching for registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Virginia Tech qualifies. Not sure? Ask your HR team or manager — it goes a long way.

  • Share at work: If your company doesn’t match, that’s okay. Consider giving the campaign a quick mention in an all-hands, team chat, or casual email. It doesn’t have to be a big moment — just a personal note and a link can help others get involved.

  • Tell your story: If you benefited from student support — or wish you had — that’s a story worth sharing. Maybe you missed a study abroad program due to cost, or worked through college to stay afloat. Your story can help others understand why this matters.

Questions

Have a question or want to get involved? Reach out anytime at vt.idab@gmail.com — we’re happy to help.

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