Basic Needs Center - Fall 2026
Description
We are so excited to share that every gift made to this campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000 thanks to a generous commitment from
The Cheng Family Foundation!
Additionally, every 25 gifts will unlock $25,000 - up to $125,000 thanks to a generous commitment from the Chase Family!
Thank you to the Chase Family and The Cheng Family Foundation for this incredible show of support!
At the UC Irvine Basic Needs Center, we believe no student should have to decide between their essential needs and affording their education. For over a decade, the UC Irvine Basic Needs Center has made sure no Anteater has to choose between their next meal and their next exam. Each year, we help thousands of students access food, emergency resources and immediate assistance — because when basic needs are met, students can focus on what matters most: their success.
We stay busy keeping fresh produce in stock for our students!
Why We Need to Bridge A Gap This Year
This year, a decade-long student fee that funded our work came to an end, leaving a $250,000 gap in our operating budget. Student leaders fought hard for a new fee to cover this loss — and came remarkably close: the measure won 86% approval from those who voted, but fell short of the turnout required to pass by less than two percentage points!
A new campaign is planned for Spring 2027, but until then, the gap is real, and so is the need.
That's where you come in. Your gift today helps us bridge the gap and keep the pantry stocked, emergency grants flowing and support available — so no student has to go without the basics while pursuing their education.
Our sticky note wall is a great activity to check out if you find us tabling on campus
Where Your Gift Goes
Our goal is to raise $250,000 to help close the gap — and EVERY gift, of ANY amount, gets us closer.
$150,000 of funds raised will support the Food Pantry to keep shelves stocked with fresh produce, pantry staples and grocery essentials for thousands of students.
$50,000 of funds raised will support Emergency Grants to give direct financial support to students facing sudden hardship.
$30,000 of funds raised will support Short-Term Grocery Support to provide grocery gift cards to students navigating tight budgets.
$20,000 of funds raised will support Short-Term Transportation Support to help students get to campus, work and appointments without added financial strain.
Your Support Matters
When you give today, you become part of a community that refuses to let a budget gap stand between a student and their future. Your gift helps ensure every Anteater has what they need to thrive — not just survive!
Learn more about the UC Irvine Basic Needs Center and our story at https://basicneeds.uci.edu/about-us/.
Our student staff work hard to keep our shelves fully stocked.
$25
Foundation of Care
Give our operations a boost! Stock our shelves with pantry staples like canned goods, rice and beans.
$50
Stability Starts Here
Help a student navigating a tight budget with a grocery gift card — the kind of short-term support that keeps a rough week from turning into a rough semester.
$100
Community Care
Help expand our pantry's hours and operations, so more students can access fresh produce and grocery essentials when they need them most.
$250
Move Our Mission
Keep students moving toward their goals. Your gift helps fund transportation support that helps students get to campus, work and appointments without added financial strain.
$500
The Safety Net
Strengthen our campus safety net. Your gift helps fund an emergency grant for a student facing sudden hardship — a bill, a crisis, an unexpected cost — that could otherwise derail their education.
$1,000
Championing Basic Needs
Champion a student through crisis. Your gift provides significant direct financial support — the kind of emergency grant that can keep a student enrolled and stable when life throws the unexpected their way.
$2,500
Legacy of Nourishment
When 86% of student voters said yes to basic needs security, they proved this campus is ready to solve this issue — the measure just missed the turnout threshold by two points! Your gift carries that momentum forward, driving opportunity, dignity and basic needs security across our entire community. No student should go hungry while we wait for a permanent solution.
