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Many of our students come to social work driven by a passion to help others and to make change. However, that commitment can be tested when unexpected financial challenges arise.

This year, when you support UCalgary Giving Day, April 9 – 23, 2026, you can choose to support funds created to support our students directly, allowing them to stay on track, finish their studies and become difference makers in their communities.

“Social work students are often balancing academic demands with complex financial realities,” says Dr. David Nicholas, PhD, RSW, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social Work. “When a crisis hits, even a small amount of support can make the difference between continuing or having to step away. Your support to student funds, including our Student Emergency Fund during Giving Day will help us to respond in those moments with care and immediacy.”

Meeting urgent needs, in real time

The Social Work Student Emergency Fund provides short-term financial assistance to students facing unexpected hardship.

Whether it’s housing instability, food insecurity, or unforeseen expenses that make tuition too expensive to continue, the fund is designed to offer timely support when students need it most.

“These are students who are deeply committed to pursuing a profession in which they will be trained to support others,” says Nicholas. “So, supporting them through a difficult moment is not just about financial relief, it’s about ensuring that their education, and their future contributions to our communities, can continue.”

Investing in the next generation of leaders

Another powerful way to support students on Giving Day is by investing in a fund that looks to support their growth as future leaders in the profession and in the community. 

The Leaders in Social Work Fund supports experiential learning, leadership development and real-world training opportunities with the goal of equipping students with the skills and confidence they need to lead in complex systems and make lasting change.

“Leadership in social work is not built in the classroom alone,” says Dr. Hieu Van Ngo, Senior Associate Dean and professor in the Faculty of Social Work. “It is also developed through hands-on experience, mentorship and meaningful engagement with communities. When we invest in their development, we’re investing in stronger, more equitable communities for generations to come.”

Strengthening impact through community and equity

Another way to support the faculty during Giving Day is through our Social Work’s Impact Fund, which advances initiatives grounded in equity, diversity and inclusion.

This fund is specifically designed to support a range of activities designed to make a difference in the communities we serve. This could entail community-engaged research and initiatives that centre Indigenous and equity-deserving perspectives, strengthening the faculty’s ability to respond to complex and evolving social challenges.

“Our work is rooted in community,” Nicholas says, “so, it’s fitting that the generous donor support we receive on Giving Day, will allow us to partner more deeply, to listen and to work toward co-creating solutions for the priorities of the communities we serve.”

Two weeks in which to make a lasting difference

Since its launch in 2017, UCalgary Giving Day has raised more than $15 million in support of students, research and community impact.

This year, as UCalgary, and our faculty marks our 60th anniversary, Giving Day offers an opportunity to help shape the next chapter, with all eligible donations matched dollar for dollar, up to $2,500 per gift, per fund, while matching funds last.

“Giving Day is about collective impact,” Nicholas says. “Every gift, regardless of the size, really contributes to something much larger. It helps remove barriers for students, strengthens our ability to respond to community needs, and ultimately supports the kind of social change we all want to see.”

Nicholas adds that donors are encouraged to give early, since matching funds are limited and expected to be fully allocated well before the April 23 deadline.

UCalgary Giving Day runs April 9–23. To learn more or make a gift, visit ucalgary.ca/givingday.