Leah Pistorius
April 20, 2026
Husky Giving Day, April 23, 2026, is an opportunity for the HCDE community to come together and support the students, programs, and experiences that make the department thrive.
At the University of Washington’s Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering, students learn to design technologies and systems that improve people’s lives. Gifts made during Husky Giving Day help ensure that HCDE students have access to the opportunities and support they need to succeed.
Make your Husky Giving Day gift to HCDE
This year, three HCDE funds will help unlock additional challenge gifts when giving goals are met.
Challenge gifts
Donations made on Husky Giving Day (April 23) can help unlock additional contributions from generous supporters:
- When 50 gifts are made to the HCDE Fund for Excellence, an additional $1,500 gift will be released.
- If the HCDE Excellence through Diversity Fund raises $500 by midnight, an additional $2,000 gift will be unlocked.
- If the Kientz & Patel Emergency Support Fund raises $1,000, an additional $1,500 gift will be activated.
Every gift helps move the department closer to these milestones and increases the impact of the HCDE community’s support.
HCDE Fund for Excellence
The HCDE Fund for Excellence allows the department to respond quickly to opportunities that enrich learning, research, and community engagement. This flexible fund supports the experiences that make HCDE unique.
Gifts to this fund help provide:
- Guest lectures and workshops with leaders in design, research, and technology
- Conference travel for students presenting their work and expanding their professional networks
- Community events and student programming that strengthen the HCDE experience
HCDE Excellence through Diversity Fund
The HCDE Excellence through Diversity Fund supports programs that expand access to HCDE and strengthen mentorship, partnerships, and student success.
Support for this fund helps:
- Provide DEI Mini Grants that advance inclusion and belonging within the HCDE community
- Remove financial barriers by covering admission fees for applicants who participated in HCDE Pipeline Programs
- Support recruitment and mentorship initiatives that bring new voices into human centered design and engineering
Kientz & Patel Emergency Support Fund
The Kientz & Patel Emergency Support Fund provides rapid financial support to HCDE students facing unexpected hardship. Even a small financial setback can put a student’s education at risk. This fund helps students remain enrolled and continue their studies during difficult moments.
Gifts to this fund help provide:
- Emergency grants for urgent financial needs such as housing, legal costs, medical expenses, or essential living costs
- Immediate support that allows students to stay focused on their education
Make a difference for HCDE students
A gift of any size helps ensure that HCDE students can continue pursuing their education and creating technologies that serve people and communities.