Welcome to Fundraising Friday, AB Today's weekly digest of recent developments in development.
Students at the University of Michigan-Flint will soon experience new possibilities for collegiate competition, enhanced wellness and a more vibrant campus, thanks to a $5 million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to launch an NAIA intercollegiate athletics program and support renovations to the university's Recreation Center. According to the school's Aug. 21 announcement, the funding will provide initial capital and operational support for UM-Flint's entry into intercollegiate athletics. It also marks the beginning of a broader fundraising initiative to secure additional philanthropic support for the program, facility improvements and its long-term success.
That same day, Michigan Medicine announced that former University of Michigan athletics director Bill Martin and wife Sally have donated $1 million gift to kick off fundraising efforts for a sports medicine facility on the Ann Arbor campus. The health system announced in September 2025 that it would build the Nathan and Catherine Forbes Sports Medicine Institute, and planning and design are now underway.
Atlantis Sports, a nonprofit organization launched in 2022 with the mission "to increase awareness, involvement and enjoyment of underwater hockey for participants and spectators," has donated $4.128 million to Adams 12 Five Star Schools in Thornton, Colo. According to a district announcement, the Adams 12 Board of Education approved an agreement to accept the donation during its Aug. 19 meeting. The funding will support the installation of a new tile pool shell compatible with underwater hockey at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center. The improvements are intended to align the pool with standards recognized by the Colorado High School Activities Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations. They will also expand aquatics programming opportunities for Adams 12 students and the Thornton community and position the VMAC as a prime contender to host the 2029 Underwater Hockey World Championships, a 14-day international event anticipated for late summer 2029.
The University of West Florida announced Aug. 21 a $1.7 million commitment from PenAir Credit Union that will expand the credit union's longstanding partnership with Argonaut Athletics, including naming the UWF Field House the PenAir Field House and the exclusive premium club space in the new Darrell Gooden Stadium the PenAir Champions Club. The investment will support the construction of the Darrell Gooden Stadium and establish a new endowed scholarship that will support future Argo student-athletes. As part of the agreement, PenAir will also become the "Official Credit Union of UWF Athletics."
Villanova University announced Thursday a $1 million gift from former linebacker Stephen Curry to endow the first-ever non-head coaching position in Villanova Athletics. This leadership gift will endow Villanova football's defensive coordinator position and be named the Steve Curry '99 Defensive Coordinator Endowed Fund. The gift will also provide flexible financial support for the Villanova football program.
The University of Nevada Las Vegas athletics department announced Wednesday that it has received an anonymous $1 million gift to establish an endowment supporting student-athlete scholarships. The gift also supports the priorities of the $150 million "Rebel Up" comprehensive capital campaign, which launched in October 2023.
Total amount of these gifts:
$13,828,000
Running total for 2026:
$648,315,847
Total amount tracked by AB Today in 2025:
$1,671,578,500
