UT Libraries

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This campaign ended on April 30, 2026, but you can still make a gift to University of Texas at Austin by clicking here!
About

Who We Are


For more than 125 years, the University of Texas Libraries have committed to building one of the greatest library collections in the world. Maintaining more than 10 million volumes and providing access to the latest digital journals, databases and web resources, the Libraries provide unparalleled access to course materials, rare archives, and multi-media resources for students and faculty across the Forty Acres.




Our 40 for Forty Goal

UT Libraries’ 40 Hours for the Forty Acres campaign will raise funds for Open Educational Resources (OER) to provide free and accessible course materials, books, and journals for all UT students and the wider Longhorn community. Initiatives such as the Open Education Fellowship support UT faculty in priority of offering free and low-cost course materials for students. Our goal is to grow the OER Endowment to $80,000 to continue expanding our programs and initiatives in the coming academic year.



With Your Support


OER mitigates the financial barriers that many students face in accessing and continuing higher education by increasing the availability of free or low-cost course materials. Investing in OER allows instructors to design materials to achieve their course objectives and help elevate student retention and graduation rates. Since its inaugural year in 2021, this fellowship has saved students over $146,776 in potential course material costs.

“In my major, materials for physical media often supplement traditional textbooks and can become expensive very quickly. [Professor] was intentional about making sure we were aware of university resources and also provided necessary materials for our coursework. This support made the class more accessible and created a more positive and encouraging learning environment for me.” - UT Sophomore, Department of Design

Your gift will support UT Libraries’ commitment to providing equal and accessible resources to students for generations to come. We look forward to exploring opportunities to further serve our students and faculty during this 40 for Forty season. Supporting this endowment will not only increase its impact in the coming year, but help maintain consistent sustainable funding for the future.

Gifts to UT Libraries contribute to...

40 Hours for the Forty Acres
3,530 Donors - $1,162,569 Donated
Incentives 😎
Get 5 gifts through your advocate link to earn a 40 for Forty Bandana.
Only 42 left!
Generate 5 Gifts
Get 10 gifts through your advocate link to earn a clear UT fanny pack.
Only 63 left!
Generate 10 Gifts
Get 15 gifts through your advocate link to earn a 40 for Forty 30 oz. tumbler.
Only 34 left!
Generate 15 Gifts

Advocates 📣

Community Advocates

Generated 3281 clicks and 310 gifts, totaling $35,401

Soh Nishiyama

Generated 302 clicks and 116 gifts, totaling $19,672

Luke Mastrian

Generated 339 clicks and 233 gifts, totaling $18,348

David Griffin

Generated 170 clicks and 61 gifts, totaling $11,515

Randall Ford

Generated 113 clicks and 16 gifts, totaling $5,825

Anna Boxall

Generated 295 clicks and 21 gifts, totaling $3,765

Mark Carella

Generated 130 clicks and 18 gifts, totaling $3,717

Victoria Mena

Generated 97 clicks and 7 gifts, totaling $3,560

Sam Zarou

Generated 71 clicks and 21 gifts, totaling $3,260

Katelyn Rood

Generated 174 clicks and 16 gifts, totaling $3,233


Leaderboards & Donors 🎁

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Donor Affiliations
Gradhat icon25%Alumni
Suitcase icon13%Faculty/Staff
Parent icon7%Parents
Friends icon4%Friends
Gradhat icon4%Texas Exes Chapter
Most Recent Donors
Kathleen Higgins
Kathleen Higgins
Lisa Shoemaker
Lisa Shoemaker
Luisa Nardini
Luisa Nardini
David Boles
David Boles
Andrea Sitterle
Andrea Sitterle
Anonymous
Anonymous
Michael Shensky
Michael Shensky
Katie Cook
Katie Cook
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Updates❗
​Final Advocate Update

Advocates, you have until 10:00 p.m. CST to solidify your rankings. Good luck!

Gift Count Leaders

1. Luke Mastrian – 232

2. Soh Nishiyama – 116

3. David Griffin – 59

4. Jacob – 38

5. Rizky Pratama – 29


Dollars Raised Leaders

1. Soh Nishiyama – $19,672

2. Luke Mastrian – $18,338

3. David Griffin – $11,414.60

4. Randall Ford – $5,675

5. Mark Carella – $3,717


Winners will be announced on May 1.

35 days ago by Pablo Mora
Final Sprint

Longhorns, this is the final sprint of 40 Hours for the Forty Acres!

Make your final gift now and help push us across the finish line at 10:00 p.m. CST.

Competing on a leaderboard? Every gift and share can still change the standings and this is your last chance to claim advocate incentives.

35 days ago by Pablo Mora
Advocate Challenge Update #3

Final hour, Advocates! Nothing is locked in! Every share and every gift can still change the leaderboard. The top five advocates in each challenge earn extra match dollars for the designation of their choice.

Gift Count Leaders

1. Luke Mastrian – 231

2. Soh Nishiyama – 116

3. David Griffin – 59

4. Jacob – 38

5. Leonard Ali Wako Memon – 25

Dollars Raised Leaders

1. Soh Nishiyama – $19,672

2. Luke Mastrian – $18,288

3. David Griffin – $11,414.60

4. Randall Ford – $5,675

5. Mark Carella – $3,717

One final update will be placed on the 40 for Forty site at 9:30 p.m. CST.

35 days ago by Pablo Mora
Advocate Challenge Update #2

Here’s where things stand right now in our Advocate Challenges. Every share and every gift counts, nothing is locked in yet. Remember that the top five advocates for each challenge get additional match dollars for a designation of their choice.

Current Leaders

Advocate Challenge: Gift Count Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest number of gifts so far:

1. Luke Mastrian - 189 gifts

2. Soh Nishiyama - 76 gifts

3. David Griffin - 48 gifts

4. Jacob - 27 gifts

5. Leonard Ali Wako Memon - 23 gifts

 

Advocate Challenge: Dollars Raised Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest cumulative dollars so far:

1. Soh Nishiyama - $13,950

2. Luke Mastrian - $13,428

3. David Griffin - $9,695

4. Randall Ford - $5,475

5. Mark Carella - $3,567

 

Huge thanks to our advocates who are pushing hard and setting the pace. Leaders, defend your spot as we make our way to the 10:00 p.m. CST finish line!

36 days ago by Pablo Mora
Advocate Challenge Update #1

We’re excited to share a snapshot of the current standings in our two Advocate Challenges during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres. These rankings reflect where things stand right now and there’s still plenty of time to keep moving up! Remember that the top five advocates in each challenge get additional match dollars for a designation of their choice.

Advocate Challenge: Gift Count Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest number of gifts so far:

1. Luke Mastrian - 156 gifts

2. Soh Nishiyama - 35 gifts

3. David Griffin - 26 gifts

4. Jacob - 18 gifts

5. Leonard Ali Wako Memon - 15 gifts


Advocate Challenge: Dollars Raised Highlighting the advocates who have generated the highest cumulative dollars so far:

1. Luke Mastrian - $8,943

2. Soh Nishiyama - $5,960

3. David Griffin - $4,945

4. Randall Ford - $4,375

5. Emily Quigley - $2,376

A huge thank you to everyone who has already stepped up as an advocate. Your outreach, enthusiasm, and commitment are powering 40 Hours for the Forty Acres.

Keep sharing your links, keep spreading the word, and keep up the great work, we can’t wait to see how these leader boards shift as we approach the finish on April 30 at 10 p.m. CST!

36 days ago by Pablo Mora