The University of Mississippi raised a record $284.6 million in private support during fiscal year 2026, a 32% increase totaling $69 million, that will expand scholarships, cancer care and research, premier facilities and athletics excellence.
This marks a third consecutive year of record fundraising. It sustains the momentum of the historic Now & Ever: The Campaign for Ole Miss, a comprehensive campaign that wrapped up in 2025 and generated $1.75 billion in private giving.
“At the heart of this extraordinary year is trust,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. “Our alumni and supporters believe in the University of Mississippi's mission and trust us to steward their generosity wisely.
“Their confidence is transforming academic opportunities, student experiences and furthering our impact across Mississippi.”
The fiscal year, which ended June 30, included 101,000 gifts from over 28,000 donors, more than 6,300 of whom are first-time supporters.
“The first lady and I spent much of the year meeting with alumni and friends, sharing the mission of this great university,” Boyce said. “We were humbled by the enthusiasm and support we encountered everywhere.”
The university's endowment stands at some $1.16 billion. The UM Foundation invests endowed funds to provide permanent, sustainable annual support for students and university priorities.
Investing in Academic Excellence
Donors contributed more than $83.4 million to academic programs, research and economic development.
Among the year's major gifts, the Joseph C. Bancroft Charitable and Educational Fund, of McComb, renewed its support of the Croft Institute for International Studies with a $5 million commitment; and Bill and Melanie Roper, of La Jolla, California, added $3 million to their $2 million endowment supporting academic scholarships. They also invested $1.8 million to create the Roper Scholar Travel Experience Endowment, providing Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College students with annual domestic and international learning opportunities.
More than 120 donors united to establish a major endowment supporting the Department of Political Science, which now bears the name of alumnus Ray Mabus, former Mississippi governor, U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the longest-serving U.S. secretary of the Navy since World War I.
The estate of Larry Hardy, of Memphis, Tennessee, provided a $2.8 million gift for the Patterson School of Accountancy; and Leslie and Bill Ashford, of Madison, gave $2 million to advance physics education.
The Ole Miss Alumni Association secured a record $8.3 million toward its new $51 million-plus Triplett Alumni Center on the site of the current building. A $2.25 million gift from Sunny and Mac Haik, of Houston, Texas, will support its welcome center, the starting point for all future campus visits.
In an amazing display of care and concern for our students, donors provided support to hundreds of students facing emergencies in the immediate wake of Winter Storm Fern. They contributed more than 1,990 gifts totaling $530,000 to the Rebel Relief Fund.
Transforming Health Care
At the University of Mississippi Medical Center, donors gave $93.3 million in support, fueling expanded scholarships and healthcare programs, specialized patient care initiatives and the future home of the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute.
“We are mindful that this kind of progress can only happen with added support from our generous donor community,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs. “Whether it was for student scholarships, scientific discovery, expansion of patient care facilities or healthcare program expansion, the gifts are making a positive impact on our institution and the state.”
Driving much of that momentum is It's About Time: The Campaign for the CCRI, a $125 million campaign to build a five-story, 250,000-square-foot center for advanced cancer treatment, research and education. The campaign has surpassed 80% of its goal.
Three $10 million commitments from the Bower Foundation, of Ridgeland; Jean Reed Morris Adams, of Clinton; and the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation, of Ridgeland, helped propel the effort. Other major gifts included $7.5 million from the Ergon Foundation, of Jackson; $5 million each from C Spire, of Ridgeland, and Jim Kennedy, of Atlanta; and $2 million from Trustmark, of Jackson.
Alongside our donors and in support of the university's vision of paving the way for a healthier Mississippi, the Mississippi Legislature appropriated $100 million for the cancer center, a figure not included in the university's private fundraising total. The appropriation reflects a commitment to improving cancer outcomes in a state with the nation's highest cancer mortality.
The center will expand access to lifesaving therapies and accelerate discoveries that will benefit patients in Mississippi for generations to come. Groundbreaking is scheduled for Oct. 22.
Donors also made historic investments in patient care and health education. Priscilla and David O'Donnell, of Ridgeland, committed $9 million to Children's of Mississippi to support the hospital's heart program in perpetuity and provide resources needed for future growth. The late Betty Sue Dettre, of Columbia, left nearly $5 million to Children's of Mississippi, while Lisa and Michael Johnson, of Madison, contributed $5 million for scholarships and nursing program support on the Oxford campus.
Record Support for Athletics
The Ole Miss Athletics Foundation raised $107.9 million, the largest total in its history. The funds will be invested in scholarships, academic guidance, wellness support and facility improvements.
“Our athletics program is experiencing a historic period of success, and none of it would be possible without the steadfast support of the Ole Miss family,” said Keith Carter, vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics. “We are sincerely grateful for our donors' continued enthusiasm, generosity and commitment.”
Philanthropic support fueled excellence across Ole Miss athletics, providing the resources, facilities and opportunities that help student-athletes compete at the highest level. That investment was reflected on the national stage, highlighted by a Smallbore National Championship for rifle, a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance and a College World Series berth.
Among major donors were Alisa and Mark Bourne, of Pontotoc, who gave $5 million, with the softball stadium named in their honor. Brooks Anne and Johnson Berry, of Dallas, contributed $5 million, with the Field Club at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium named in their honor. Donna and John McCommon, of Ridgeland, contributed $3 million, and Ali and Curtis Lovett, of Fresno, California, committed $1 million.
All these gifts were directed to help with all aspects of Ole Miss athletics, including facility improvements, programs and scholarships.
Diane and J.L. Holloway, of Nashville, Tennessee, gave $5 million to strengthen the men's basketball program. Sloane and Josh Smith, of Brookhaven, contributed $1 million, and Babs and Chan Henry, of Madison, provided $1 million, both in support of the golf program.
To learn more about supporting the University of Mississippi, contact Charlotte Parks, vice chancellor for development, at cpparks@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3120; the University of Mississippi Medical Center, contact Meredith Aldridge, chief development officer, at mmaldridge@umc.edu or 601-815-7469; and Ole Miss athletics, Denson Hollis, senior associate athletics director for development and Ole Miss Athletics Foundation CEO, at denson@givetoathletics.com or 662-915-7159.
Give to the university online here. Checks, with the designated fund written in the memo line, can be mailed to the University of Mississippi Foundation, 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655.
By Tina H. Hahn/UM Development