On Thursday, April 9, Knight Nation joins together to Bounce, Stomp, Splash and Cheer for UCF Day of Giving, a 24-hour celebration of generosity, community and the bold ideas shaping a future the world has only begun to imagine.

From Orlando to communities across the country and around the world, alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of the university will unite with a shared goal: elevating student success, advancing discovery and innovation and driving academic excellence through the power of giving.

UCF Day of Giving is a powerful reminder of what the Knight community can accomplish together. Every gift helps expand opportunity for our students and fuels the discoveries that move communities forward.

At UCF, generosity isn’t just about supporting a university. It’s about investing in people and possibilities — the students pursuing their dreams, the researchers tackling global challenges and the partnerships transforming communities. Every gift, no matter the size, helps turn ambition into action.

When Knights give, opportunity expands.

Support from donors activates scholarships that help students stay on track toward graduation. It powers research that advances industries from space exploration to artificial intelligence. It strengthens programs that prepare tomorrow’s nurses, engineers, educators and entrepreneurs. And it opens doors for first-generation students who are daring to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

In short, every gift has a meaningful impact on the lives of current and future Knights everywhere.

Throughout the day, supporters can direct their gifts to the colleges, programs and initiatives that matter most to them. Whether someone chooses to support student scholarships, cutting-edge research, athletics, the arts or programs that expand access to education, each contribution helps power the momentum that defines UCF.

That collective momentum is what makes the day so powerful.

Across campus and online, UCF Day of Giving highlights the stories behind the impact — students finding their path, faculty leading breakthroughs and alumni who continue to carry the Knight spirit into industries and communities around the globe. These stories remind us that behind every gift is a person whose opportunity just grew a little larger.

The day also celebrates the determination and optimism that define UCF. Since its founding, the university has been built by people who dared to think differently and act boldly. Today, that same spirit drives the work happening in classrooms, labs and communities every day.

From expanding access to higher education to advancing research that improves lives, UCF continues to prove that big ideas — paired with bold action — can create lasting change.

Here are a few things Knights should know about UCF Day of Giving 2026:

  • It’s a 24-hour giving celebration. On Thursday, April 9, Knights everywhere will unite for UCF Day of Giving — a day dedicated to supporting the students, research and programs shaping the future. 
  • Every gift accelerates what’s next. Donor support powers scholarships, breakthrough research and programs that expand opportunity and strengthen communities.
  • You decide where to make an impact. Give to the college, program, scholarship or initiative that matters most to you.
  • Knights participate around the world. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends come together from across the country and around the globe.

UCF Day of Giving invites everyone who believes in that mission to take part.

A gift on April 9 is more than a donation. It’s a vote of confidence in the students working toward their goals, the faculty pushing the boundaries of knowledge and the partnerships strengthening communities across Florida and beyond.

Together, the Knight community is building something extraordinary — a future powered by curiosity, courage and generosity.

On April 9, every Knight has the opportunity to help shape what comes next.

Join the momentum. Help build what’s next. Be part of UCF Day of Giving.