8 Sept 2026
UC Davis announces record-breaking US$676m fund-raising year
Total includes more than US$261 million raised by its vet school.
Chris Simpson
Job Title
Artist impression of the planned new veterinary hospital, which will be part funded by the Weill Family Foundation gift of US$120 million.
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) has announced it raised a record-breaking US$676 million in philanthropic support in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The total is said to more than double the university’s previous giving record and marks the strongest fund-raising year in its history.
It includes more than US$261 million raised by the Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, more than doubling its previous record set the year prior.
Vet school donations
The vet school celebrated a US$120 million gift from Joan and Sanford Weill in January, while in April it received a US$75 million donation from Kathy Chiao and Kenneth Hao.
UC Davis said the gifts would help fund a new small animal teaching hospital, expand scholarships and research opportunities and grow programmes for pet owners unable to afford veterinary care.
Two other UC Davis academic units set fund-raising records for the year, with the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences collecting US$231 million, also more than twice its previous record, and the College of Biological Sciences raising more than US$19 million.
UC Davis Health also raised more than US$74 million.
Donors
Overall, the institution raised US$676,216,825 with 56,153 gifts from 29,668 donors between July 2025 and June 2026.
Chancellor Gary May said: “This is a defining moment for UC Davis. 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.”
‘Deeply grateful’
Shaun Keister, vice-chancellor for development and alumni relations, added: “We are deeply grateful for the thousands of acts of generosity and years of trusted relationships with our donors and volunteers.
“A year that more than doubles our previous fund-raising record shows us that our community believes deeply in UC Davis and in what we can accomplish together.”