July 22, 2025

The University of South Florida set new fundraising records for the fourth straight year in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2025, receiving over $184 million in philanthropic support from more than 59,700 donors — both all-time highs for the university.

“This record-breaking support is a testament to the University of South Florida’s positive impact in our community, our state and the world,” USF President Rhea Law said. “We are deeply grateful to every donor whose generosity is transforming lives, advancing innovation and helping us shape a brighter tomorrow for our students and society.”

This year’s philanthropic support has made a transformative impact across every corner of the university, from funding groundbreaking research initiatives and state-of-the-art facilities to creating scholarships that open doors for students. 

The $184.2 million raised over the past year includes gifts from close to 15,000 new donors, also a record. This was the fourth consecutive year that philanthropy exceeded $150 million, totaling over $660 million in gifts to USF over the last four years.

“Every gift — regardless of size — represents a powerful vote of confidence in USF’s mission, vision and values,” USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman said. “We are incredibly thankful to our donors for their continued trust and generosity, which are fueling life-changing opportunities for our students and driving innovation across our campuses.”

The impact of philanthropic giving can be seen in many individual stories from the past year, including a historic $40 million gift from Arnie and Lauren Bellini, which named the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing.

The university also set records this year for its annual Giving Week celebration, a weeklong community fundraising initiative held in April. An all-time high of 12,324 donors contributed — 2,155 for the first time. The USF Foundation received more than $6.6 million toward 566 causes, the most ever supported in USF Giving Week history.

Breanna Deaubler, a senior cybersecurity major, was particularly thrilled by the Bellinis’ investment in the new Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing.

During her time at USF she’s been involved with several cybersecurity student organizations and worked as a student researcher at the university’s Institute of Applied Engineering.

“I’ve seen firsthand how philanthropy at USF creates opportunities that change lives,” she said. “The support I received not only helped me grow as a student and leader, but it also continues to provide many students an opportunity to make an impactful difference. I’m truly grateful for the generosity of USF’s supporters, and I hope to give back in the same way one day.”