P.A.W. Circle Initiative to Empower Staff/Faculty Philanthropy

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:05:31 -0400

The office of Institutional Advancement is pleased to announce the launch of the P.A.W. Circle to recognize the staff and faculty dedication to our students that sets UMBC apart from other institutions. P.A.W. stands for Philanthropy At Work, and it is a community of faculty and staff donors who make the decision to go a step further in supporting our students.

When you make a financial contribution to any area on campus, it directly provides scholarships and academic resources, supports student life, fuels groundbreaking research, and strengthens our entire university community.

How to Join the P.A.W. Circle

If you have already made a gift during fiscal year 2025 or 2026 (since July 1), you are already a P.A.W. Circle member! For those who'd like to join, it's easy through one (or more) of these three giving options:

Make a donation online and be sure to choose "Faculty/Staff" as one of your affiliations.

Sign up for payroll deduction by clicking the Login button on the top right and then select UMBC.

Create your own UMBC legacy and join the prestigious 1966 Society by including the UMBC Foundation in your estate plan.

Special Events and Community

Members of the P.A.W. Circle will be invited for two special "Mug of the Month" events each semester. Members will receive a P.A.W. mug to keep, and you can bring it to these events to fill with a delicious treat. Even if you make a donation the same day, you can bring your email receipt and get your mug at the door.

You will also be added to a special myUMBC group for our P.A.W. Circle community. New members will be added to the group with updates happening regularly, giving you another way to stay connected. If you have any questions, please contact Tessa Newton, associate director of leadership annual giving, at tnewton@umbc.edu.