University of South Florida sets new records for total donors and funds committed in a single year

TAMPA, Fla. (July 25, 2023) — The University of South Florida received more than $157 million in philanthropic commitments last fiscal year from over 37,500 donors, setting records for both financial generosity and the number of supporters who chose to invest. This marks the fifth straight year that annual charitable giving benefitting the university surpassed $100 million and the second straight record-setting year over $150 million.

“To have a record-breaking fundraising year shows that our donors recognize the University of South Florida’s upward trajectory and the value in supporting the success of our students, faculty, staff and programs,” USF President Rhea Law said. “I express my sincere appreciation to the thousands of donors and alumni whose continued generosity makes a significant impact and helps advance the university’s strategic priorities.”

The $157.4 million raised over the past year includes gifts from more than 11,800 new donors, also a record. The total amounts are from the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023.

“Our students are some of the most talented, dedicated scholars in the country,” USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman said. “We are grateful for the enduring and unprecedented support our Bulls community provides to ensure our students can access every available opportunity, our faculty can conduct leading research and our staff can continue to build and grow. USF has incredible momentum across the institution, from business partnerships to our health enterprise to athletics, and I could not be more excited to see what new heights we can reach together bolstered by our generous donors and friends.”

Several strategic initiatives for the university were advanced with the help of USF supporters, including:

• In August, Baldwin Risk Partners donated $5 million, the largest gift in USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus history, to name the Baldwin Risk Partners School of Risk Management and Insurance.
• A $5 million gift from Tampa Electric to USF’s College of Engineering, the largest single outright gift ever made to the college, supports the Clean Energy Research Center’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and develop cutting-edge solutions leveraging renewable energy.
• In October, the College of Engineering and Morsani College of Medicine received a $6 million planned gift from an anonymous alumna that supports biomedical engineering research. This joint venture aims to improve patient care by conducting innovative research, developing impactful technologies and training students for success as multidisciplinary global leaders.
• The Monterey Bay Aquarium Institute gifted an $11.7 million twin-hulled research vessel, the Western Flyer, to the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) in October. The FIO is hosted on USF’s St. Petersburg campus, where students will soon have even more opportunities to conduct research and engage in real-world experiences that will help fill the talent pipeline.
• A $5.1 million gift from J.D Porter and family in January named the Porter Family Indoor Performance Facility on the Tampa campus. The facility provides an indoor space for men’s and women’s athletics to practice and train.
• The USF Federal Credit Union built upon decades of support with a $1 million gift supporting student scholarships and programs across the university, including USF Health, the Sarasota-Manatee campus and Veterans Success.
• From April 10-14, USF celebrated its beloved mascot, Rocky D. Bull, by hosting another successful Giving Week. A record 7,064 donors, including 1,152 new donors, supported 256 causes across the university. The $6.6 million raised during Giving Week 2023 set another record.
• Just last month, USF alum James “Jay” Nault gave $10 million to name the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship in the Muma College of Business.

Donor support also made possible the new Judy Genshaft Honors College building, which was unveiled to the public in May. In 2019, a historic lead gift of $20 million from USF President Emerita and Professor Judy Genshaft and her husband, Steven Greenbaum, set construction of the building in motion. Other donors stepped up to name the many classrooms, learning lofts, and dedicated studio spaces for art, food, culture, music and technology throughout the building. In total, over $46 million of the project was funded by private gifts. In fall 2023, the building will open its doors to its first cohort of students.

Sophomore Alexis Agnew, a Judy Genshaft Honors College student and recipient of the USF Presidential Award scholarship, expressed her excitement for this new chapter.

“It’s been an incredible experience working with students from other academic disciplines in the Judy Genshaft Honors College,” Agnew said. “I can’t wait to set foot inside this new building where I will collaborate, innovate and explore with my fellow honors students, and I am so grateful to all those who made it happen.”

“I will never be tired of saying ‘this is an exciting year for the University of South Florida,’” said USF Foundation Board of Directors Chair Anthony James, ’73. “Every year, we do more. From the students who reach higher to our faculty who push the boundaries of intellectual discovery to our donors who give of their time, talent and treasure, we continue to do more. I am truly grateful for the generosity bestowed upon this great institution. An investment in USF is an investment in the future.”

More information on how philanthropic support helps advance the university is available here.

About the University of South Florida

The University of South Florida, a high-impact research university dedicated to student success and committed to community engagement, generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. With campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF serves approximately 50,000 students who represent nearly 150 different countries.  For four consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked USF as one of the nation’s top 50 public universities, including USF’s highest ranking ever in 2023 (No. 42). In 2023, USF became the first public university in Florida in nearly 40 years to be invited to join the Association of American Universities, a prestigious group of the leading universities in the United States and Canada. Through hundreds of millions of dollars in research activity each year and as one of top universities in the world for securing new patents, USF is a leader in solving global problems and improving lives. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more atâ?¯www.usf.edu. 

About the USF Foundation

The USF Foundation connects the university with donors who want to make a difference by providing private, philanthropic support to promote student success, academic initiatives, research, and other strategic priorities of the University of South Florida. Our donors celebrate the energy, vision, and future of one of the country’s most exciting and engaged universities. Our people and programs, our ideas, our research, and our solutions comprise an ambitious plan to enhance healthcare, science, technology, education, business, the arts and global partnerships. Learn more at www.giving.usf.edu.

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