You made a difference 
with your gift in 2023

Join us on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 for this year's Pitt Day of Giving as we continue to make an impact on the Pitt community. 

Pitt Day of Giving Helps Pave the Way for Women Engineers at Pitt

Pitt Day of Giving (PDoG) support helps the Pink Panthers+ Mentorship Program in the Swanson School of Engineering empower admitted women students to envision a future at Pitt and in engineering. The program offers an immersive, daylong experience with one-on-one mentorship, faculty interactions, hands-on projects, and tours of engineering facilities and living-learning spaces. PDoG gifts funded program materials, meals, and activities, helping participants build confidence and early connections. For students like Kristin Bindas, now a senior and mentor herself, the program fostered belonging and support. Through WEP@Pitt, donor generosity continues to strengthen community, mentorship, and opportunity for women engineers.

What’s better than designing and building something yourself?
Doing it for someone else.

At Falk Laboratory School, Middle School students in the WonderLab makerspace design and build play objects for Kindergarteners, creating a cycle of giving that reflects the school’s “Wonder, Care, Act” ethos. Supported by Pitt Day of Giving donations, the WonderLab provides hands-on learning experiences that teach students problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. Funds raised in 2023 purchased materials used by students today, while ongoing donations help maintain tools and update furniture. Established through a successful crowdfunding effort, the WonderLab enhances classroom learning, supports the school community, and helps students learn by designing with purpose and empathy.

GSPIA Students Expand Horizons Beyond Campus Thanks to Pitt Day of Giving Support

Thanks to Pitt Day of Giving (PDoG) support, students in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs gained transformative learning experiences beyond campus. Donations to the GSPIA Internship Resource Fund enabled Ryan Druffner to participate in the D.C. Semester Program, combining coursework, a federal internship, and professional networking that reshaped his career goals. The same support helped Erin Zehr conduct research in Kenya on community-managed water systems, strengthening her interest in international development and effective governance. By offsetting housing and travel costs, PDoG gifts removed financial barriers to unpaid or low-paid opportunities, allowing students to pursue hands-on, global experiences that expanded their perspectives and professional ambitions.

Pitt Day of Giving Donors Provide Gift of Time and Perspective to Brackenridge Fellows

Thanks to Pitt Day of Giving donors, students in the David C. Frederick Honors College gained time, focus, and interdisciplinary perspective through the Brackenridge Fellowship. The program provides $4,000 to undergraduate researchers, allowing them to concentrate on scholarly or creative projects while reducing the need for part-time work. Fellows pursue individual research under faculty mentorship while meeting weekly with peers from diverse disciplines. For Pitt senior Richa Desai, this collaborative environment enriched her research on public health data in colonial India and revealed new ways to interpret complex problems. Donor support helps cultivate creative thinking, communication skills, and innovative scholarship across fields.

Pitt Day of Giving Shows Panthers Forward Participants the Power of Philanthropy

Pitt Day of Giving (PDoG) donors demonstrated the power of philanthropy by supporting the Panthers Forward program, which helps Pitt students reduce student loan debt and prepare for life after graduation. Each year, Panthers Forward provides up to $5,000 in federal loan relief to 150 students, along with alumni mentoring. For participants like Emily Grugan, the program offered not only financial support but also valuable guidance from an alumni mentor as she launched her engineering career. PDoG support sends a powerful message about giving back, creating a ripple effect that inspires students to support others and continue Pitt’s culture of generosity.

At SHRS, One Challenge Impacts Many Students

Pitt Day of Giving encourages friendly competition at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) through the Tony Award challenge, led by Dean Anthony Delitto. The award recognizes the department with the greatest increase in donors, with a $1,000 prize supporting student programming. In 2023, the Department of Communication Science and Disorders won by increasing its donor participation by 54 percent. The challenge funds were used to support the SHRS Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) affinity group, which serves students across the school. PDoG gifts and matching challenges like the Tony Award multiply donor impact, helping SHRS students receive mentorship, support, and inclusive programming that benefits the entire community.