Welcome to Fundraising Friday, AB Today's weekly digest of recent developments in development.
Mustang Partners has announced a $2 million gift from 1979 graduate Craig Levering and wife Carrie, further strengthening the Southern Methodist University athletics department's commitment to providing a world-class experience for Mustangs on and off the field. According to SMU's Aug. 13 announcement, the gift will directly support the Student-Athlete Benefit Fund, which provides critical resources to help SMU student-athletes thrive academically, athletically and personally while competing at the highest levels. The Leverings have been SMU football and basketball season-ticket holders since 1980.
An anonymous donor has made a $1.25 million commitment to launch a new era for University of San Francisco Athletics under the leadership of director of athletics Brent Blaylock. The gift includes $750,000 to strengthen USF men's basketball through the Bridge to Excellence initiative and $500,000 to establish the Director of Athletics Leadership Fund, which will serve as Blaylock's strategic resource for advancing USF Athletics, according to the school's Aug. 11 announcement.
University of Virginia wrestling alum Colin Steele, who was interred at Arlington National Cemetary on Aug. 7, has endowed the Colin G. Steele Bicentennial Scholarship with a fully realized gift of $1.15 million, the school announced four days later. Steele was the first two-time individual ACC champion in Virginia athletics history, claiming wrestling titles at 123 pounds in 1955 and 1956 and helping lead the Cavaliers to runner-up team finishes in the ACC during both seasons.
The Terk family has made a $760,847 gift to the Amarillo (Texas) College volleyball program — the largest ever to a designated AC sport. The Amarillo College Foundation and Terk family announced the gift at a news conference Tuesday morning at the FirstBank Southwest Center on AC’s Washington campus. The gift to the AC volleyball program will benefit three funds established through the family's generosity: the Madison Kellogg Endowed Volleyball Scholarship ($250,000), the Madison Kellogg Volleyball Support Fund ($250,000), and the Michael and Cindy Terk Athletic Support Fund: $260,847.
Murray State Athletics has received a gift of $250,000 from an anonymous investor in Tennessee, it was announced Aug. 11. The gift will support Racer student-athletes through the Excellence Fund, which boosts revenue sharing, numerous strategic initiatives and capital progress. The athletics department has raised $52.75 million in support of new facilities, initiatives and championship resources as part of the its comprehensive $100 million fundraising campaign, Leading The Pack.
Total amount of these gifts:
$5,410,847
Running total for 2026:
$634,487,847
Total amount tracked by AB Today in 2025:
$1,671,578,500
