Employees of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and its managing contractor, UT-Battelle, raised $1,066,820 during their 2025 ORNL Gives campaign in support of nonprofits and community organizations across East Tennessee.
ORNL employees contributed more than $878,970 in 2025 through individual giving and 80 employee-led fundraisers. UT-Battelle added $180,144 in support of those employee efforts. ORNL employees also contributed significant volunteer time and in-kind support. In 2025, employees registered through Volunteer East Tennessee recording over 1,745 hours, representing an estimated $53,309.
"Our mission extends beyond the laboratory," said ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer. "I'm proud of our staff for continuing to demonstrate a deep commitment to supporting their community through generosity and service in 2025."
The flexibility of ORNL's workplace giving program allows employees to support a wide range of nonprofits through donations or volunteering. In 2025, the campaign featured fundraisers including bake sales, 5K runs, food drives, golf tournaments and holiday giving events.
"What stood out to me this year was the creativity employees brought to ORNL Gives," said Brian Anderson, 2025 ORNL Gives chair and director of the laboratory's Enrichment Science and Engineering Division. "From long-running events to new ideas like a hot dog eating contest or a golf tournament, people found ways to give that felt personal, and that translated into real impact for the community."
What stood out to me this year was the creativity employees brought to ORNL Gives. From long-running events to new ideas like a hot dog eating contest or a golf tournament, people found ways to give that felt personal, and that translated into real impact for the community.
The financial contributions, volunteer hours and in-kind support demonstrate not only individual generosity but also ORNL staff members' sustained commitment to strengthening the communities where they live and work.
In addition to donations via payroll deduction and volunteerism, ORNL Gives programs include:
Matching Gifts Fund - UT-Battelle matches employee contributions to 501(c)(3)s up to $500, up to a total of $1,000 per nonprofit each year.
Team UT-Battelle - This volunteer service program connects ORNL employees with outreach and enrichment opportunities to benefit Oak Ridge and communities across East Tennessee.
Disaster Relief Fund - Employees can contribute to specific disaster aid projects through the East Tennessee Foundation .
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit energy.gov/science . - Kaylee Coffman
