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The University of California, Davis, raised more than $676 million in philanthropic support during fiscal year 2025–26, more than doubling the university's previous giving record and marking the strongest fundraising year in its history.

Donors’ unprecedented level of investment in �鶹��ý will expand opportunities for students, strengthen faculty excellence, accelerate discoveries that improve lives, and support new facilities and programs that elevate the university’s impact across California and beyond.

"This is a defining moment for �鶹��ý," Chancellor Gary S. May said. "The extraordinary support from our community reflects a shared belief in what a public university can do: create opportunity, drive discovery and change lives. Together, we're building a brighter future that will reach far beyond our campus for generations to come.”

From July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, the university raised $676,216,825 with 56,153 gifts from 29,668 donors to support disciplines and programs across �鶹��ý and �鶹��ý Health — from veterinary medicine and agricultural innovation to health care, research, the arts and student success.

Landmark gifts fuel a historic year

The record-breaking year was anchored by two landmark gifts to veterinary medicine. 

In January, Joan and Sanford I. Weill committed $120 million through the Weill Family Foundation to build a new small animal teaching hospital, increase translational research, and rename the �鶹��ý Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. Three months later, Bay Area philanthropists Kathy Chiao and Kenneth Hao gave the school $75 million to help fund the small animal hospital, expand scholarships and research opportunities, and grow programs for those unable to afford veterinary care. 

The gifts are accelerating , launched in September 2025, which will build the Veterinary Medical Complex of the future through new teaching, research and clinical facilities, and expand support for students and programs.

While transformational giving helped define this historic year, it was part of a much larger story unfolding across the university.

"We are deeply grateful for the thousands of acts of generosity and years of trusted relationships with our donors and volunteers," said Shaun B. Keister, vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations. "A year that more than doubles our previous fundraising record shows us that our community believes deeply in �鶹��ý and in what we can accomplish together.”

Record support across the university

Three �鶹��ý academic units set new fundraising records this year. 

The Weill School of Veterinary Medicine raised more than $261 million, more than doubling the previous record set just one year earlier — its second consecutive year of record fundraising.  The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences raised more than $231 million, also more than twice its previous record, and the College of Biological Sciences raised a historic total of more than $19 million. 

�鶹��ý Health recorded the third-highest fundraising total, with more than $74 million raised for the School of Medicine, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and the �鶹��ý Medical Center.

, marking its 10th anniversary. Nearly 4,500 donations raised almost $3.9 million during the annual 29-hour giving event, bringing its decade-long impact to more than $32 million from over 56,000 donors supporting students, research, health care and programs across �鶹��ý and �鶹��ý Health. 

Donor support takes shape

Two significant projects made possible by donor support in prior years also came to life this year.

In November, �鶹��ý celebrated the opening of the Maria Manetti Shrem Institute for Sustainable Design, Fashion and Textiles, made possible by Maria Manetti Shrem’s gift of more than $20 million to the �鶹��ý College of Letters and Science. The institute is advancing interdisciplinary teaching and research at the intersection of design, sustainability and technology, creating new opportunities for students and faculty. 

The Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation opened in May, thanks to a lead gift of $40 million from Lynda and Stewart Resnick as part of their $50 million gift supporting agricultural innovation at �鶹��ý, creating a new hub where students, researchers and industry partners are advancing the future of food and agriculture. 

The record-setting year reflects broad philanthropic momentum across �鶹��ý, with alumni, grateful patients, foundations, corporations and friends investing in every area of the university. As these gifts are put to work, they will expand educational opportunities, fuel research and innovation, strengthen patient care, and create lasting benefits for California and communities around the world.