Frequently Asked Questions
2022 Gift of the Year: RIT Beach Towel
How can I receive an RIT beach towel?
To qualify for RIT’s Gift of the Year beach towel, your gift must be a new online gift made April 21-June 30, 2022. Payroll deduction, monthly recurring gifts already in process, gifts by mail, phone, or donor advised funds, and pledge payments do not qualify.
How many beach towels may I receive?
Donors who meet the minimum $50 online gift requirement and opt in to the offer will receive one beach towel. Quantities are limited.
Can I specify where to ship my beach towel?
Yes. At the time you make your online gift via the ROAR Day site, you will have the opportunity to tell us where to ship your beach towel. PLEASE NOTE: Beach towels can only be shipped to addresses within the continental United States. Shipping is included and may take up to 2-3 weeks.
Day of Giving and You
What is ROAR Day?
ROAR (Raise Our Annual Responses) Day is RIT’s most philanthropic 24 hours of the year! It’s a day of giving campaign that’s all about participation. It begins at 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2022 through 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 21, 2022. This year will be RIT’s 16th ROAR Day!
What’s the goal?
The goal of the day is to inspire thousands of alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends to make a gift to the area of RIT they love most. No matter what you choose to give to or how much you give, you will ROAR for more opportunities for RIT students and an educational experience that continually stimulates their creativity and innovation. Throughout the day there will be giving challenges with chances to increase the impact of your gift.
Who can participate in ROAR Day?
Everyone! Giving during ROAR Day on April 21 enables you to join with thousands of alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends around the globe who believe in the RIT community’s efforts to make a better world. Together, your gifts will add up to make a positive, real impact on education, research, and innovation at the university—and aid our students, faculty, and staff as they work to solve society’s biggest challenges.
I can only give a small amount to RIT and that won’t make a difference.
There’s power in numbers.
Last year, more than 2,000 individuals gave $100 or less, providing over $90,000 to help support an unprecedented need for scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, and more. With 94% of full-time undergraduate students receiving financial assistance, your support at any level is critical.
How can I increase the impact of my gift?
Throughout the day, challenge dollars made possible by generous donors, will be released as various milestones are met. Through these participation challenges, dollars will be unlocked and awarded to RIT’s greatest needs. Making a gift toward a challenge is a great way to increase your impact and help unlock bonus funding for RIT and our students. A complete list of challenges can be viewed on the ROAR Day main landing page. Check back for updates throughout the event.
Where can I find ROAR Day updates?
You can track progress and learn about ROAR Day challenges, and more, at rit.edu/ROAR.
Making Your Gift
How can I make a gift securely on ROAR Day?
Gifts of any size on ROAR Day are greatly appreciated it’s your participation that matters most.
- Go to rit.edu/ROAR between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 21, 2022.
- Call 800-477-0376 or simply answer your phone when a student contacts you from our Student Call Center.
I’m an RIT employee, can I make my ROAR Day gift by Payroll Deduction?
RIT employees can make their gift by Payroll Deduction at any time. However, pledge payments only count in ROAR Day totals. Please go to myinfo.rit.edu to log into Oracle and set up your contribution. Instructions for setting up your gift may be found here.
To qualify for an RIT beach towel, your gift must be a new online gift made before June 30, 2022. Payroll deduction, monthly recurring gifts already in process, gifts via mail, phone, or donor advised funds, and pledge payments do not qualify. See beach towel details above.
I’m an RIT student or RIT faculty/staff member, can I make my ROAR Day gift by Tiger Bucks?
Yes, you may make your gift by Tiger Bucks by logging into the RIT Service Portal.
Can I give to any area of RIT on ROAR Day?
Yes! We want you to support the area you’re passionate about and 100% of your gift goes directly to the fund you designate. We do hope you’ll consider giving to RIT’s unrestricted funds that have an immediate impact and support broad efforts all over campus. Endowment spending only covers about four percent of the annual operating budget but truly unrestricted support provides university leadership the flexibility to prioritize the needs of our students. Unrestricted gifts provide resources that allow the university to take advantage of unanticipated academic and student life opportunities, make life-changing international experiences accessible, offer powerful career-building and research programs, and react to numerous unforeseen challenges our students face. View RIT’s unrestricted priorities under the causes section on the ROAR day landing page.
What if I don't see the fund I want to give to?
You can find a more extensive list of funds by going to our online form and following the steps below:
- Select Additional Designations
- Search for your fund name
- Select your fund name.
- If you dont see your fund then you can search for "Other".
- Select "Other"
- Click Done
- Type in your fund name.
(You can also call us at 800-477-0376 to make your gift over the telephone. Your gift will still be counted in ROAR Day if it is given on April 21.)
What is the Sentinel Society?
The Sentinel Society recognizes a community of leadership donors who make a meaningful annual investment in the university. Together, these donors play a pivotal role in providing gifts that provide financial aid scholarships and fund RIT’s most pressing and immediate needs across campus. To learn more, visit the Sentinel Society website.
Already a Sentinel member?
Thank you for already making an incredible difference for RIT and our students through your Sentinel Society membership. As a Sentinel member, you have a special opportunity to participate in ROAR Day. On April 21, we are encouraging members to participate in RIT’s giving day by making a pledge payment at rit.edu/pledgepay or an additional outright gift to any of the Sentinel impact areas.
Please Note: To qualify for an RIT beach towel, your gift must be a new online gift made before June 30, 2022. Payroll deduction, monthly recurring gifts already in process, gifts via mail, phone, or donor advised funds, and pledge payments do not qualify. See beach towel details above.
Not a Sentinel Society member yet?
Sentinel members receive invitations to exclusive in-person and virtual experiences, early registration to select events, and recognition in our online Sentinel Honor Roll. They also receive exclusive membership communications, opportunities to engage with faculty and university leadership, and access to a community of like-minded philanthropists.
You can complete your pledge online or download a form and mail it to the address provided. All Sentinel pledge payments made on April 21, 2022, count in ROAR Day.
Please Note: To qualify for an RIT beach towel, your gift must be a new online gift made before June 30, 2022. Payroll deduction, monthly recurring gifts already in process, gifts via mail, phone, or donor advised funds, and pledge payments do not qualify. See beach towel details above.
What if I’ve already made my annual gift this year?
Thank you for your support! By participating in challenges on ROAR Day you can give extra support to the area of RIT you love the most. You can also encourage others to make their gift!
Besides giving, how can I help ROAR Day be a huge success?
There are so many ways to spread the word! Visit our toolkit and be a ROAR Day social ambassador; let your friends, family, and networks know that you’ve made a gift; and encourage them to give too. Post on your favorite social platform using #TigersROAR. Send an e-mail or text message; make a call. Whatever method you choose, your voice will make a difference in the success of ROAR Day.
Can I still make a gift after ROAR Day?
Absolutely! It’s never too late to make your gift to RIT and it’s your participation that matters most. Gifts may be made via our ROAR Day form before the funding year ends on June 30, 2022. And your new online of $50 or more made via this site qualifies for an RIT beach towel. (Please see the beach towel details above.)
Tax/Gift Credit and Donor Recognition
Is my gift tax-deductible?
RIT, under IRS law, qualifies as a charitable and tax-exempt organization. If you make a charitable gift to RIT, you may take an income tax deduction.
Under current law, contributions to charitable organizations are tax deductible only for taxpayers who itemize. For itemizers, such donations generally reduce taxable income and, therefore, federal income tax liability. RIT recommends you consult with a tax advisor when attempting to claim a charitable deduction. For more information, please visit the IRS website.
Does my gift count in Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness?
Yes. Your ROAR Day gift counts in Transforming RIT: The Campaign for Greatness.
Does my gift count towards my membership in RIT’s Loyal Tiger Society?
Yes. RIT recognizes donors with two or more years of consecutive giving for their ongoing generosity each calendar year with increased recognition in milestone years. For more information visit rit.edu/donorrecognition.
I still have questions. How can I get in touch?
Contact us at 800-477-0376 or givetorit@rit.edu.