DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas is proud to announce its most successful fundraising year in history, reaching an unprecedented milestone with $67.8 million in donations that represent more than 11,000 gifts for the 2024 fiscal year. This surpasses the previous record of $61 million set in 2019 and emphasizes UNT’s position as a leading institution in higher education in the North Texas region, the state of Texas and beyond.
This milestone reflects strong and growing support from the university’s community partners who continue to invest in UNT’s efforts to graduate career-ready graduates, said Brandon Buzbee, vice president for University Advancement.
“This remarkable fundraising year is a direct result of our collective focus on student success and innovation. Gifts have fueled projects like UNT’s expansion in Frisco, new scholarship programs, and cutting-edge research,” Buzbee said. “As we celebrate these achievements, I am proud of the efforts to ensure today’s students have the resources and opportunities to succeed and carry UNT’s legacy forward.”
Among the many generous contributions, several transformative gifts have significantly bolstered UNT’s ability to support its students, research and programs, as well as the community and state of Texas.
Philanthropic Efforts Benefitting the Community and State of Texas
The City of Frisco and the Frisco Economic Development Corporation partnered with UNT in 2018, which led to the generous donation of 100 acres of land to UNT. This laid the foundation for the UNT at Frisco branch campus, a key component of UNT's efforts to meet the educational and workforce needs of Texas. Frisco Landing, a 135,000-square-foot building, serves many of the 2,500-plus students enrolled in 27 undergraduate and master’s level programs at the Frisco campus. As UNT’s largest expansion effort outside of Denton, this partnership showcases the university’s and the region’s commitment to statewide impact.
UNT's commitment to fostering student success is further underscored by the Moody Foundation’s M-Pact Fund grant, which supports UNT P.U.S.H., a program that provides critical resources and services to students who have experienced foster care, ensuring they have the support they need to thrive academically and personally.
Scholarship Support
UNT’s ability to provide financial assistance to students was greatly enhanced by the gifts from the Smyth and Millican families. A substantial planned gift from the Smyths, who are also UNT alumni, will establish endowed chairs and scholarships for students studying Spanish and World Languages, while the Millican family’s $2.2M endowment fund will support the Accounting Scholars Program — now known as the Don and Donna Millican Accounting Scholars Program — within the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. These substantial investments ensure that future generations of students have the resources needed to pursue their academic goals.
Student Support Through Innovative Efforts and Programs
A $1M gift from the Meyer family will enhance the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS), funding efforts to market the program in smaller communities and improving its facilities to better serve the needs of its students. This support will help UNT reach talented students in underserved areas, broadening access to advanced research and STEM education. Meanwhile, the John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation’s $1 million gift will launch a new commercial music program, creating unique opportunities for students in this rapidly growing field. These forward-thinking contributions demonstrate UNT’s commitment to fostering innovation and success across a range of disciplines.
An additional highlight of the fiscal year was the success of the second annual UNT Day of Giving in May 2024, where the collective power of philanthropy was demonstrated as the university community came together to support UNT's highest priorities. Through this event alone, 2,561 donors raised $770,188, showcasing the power of our community uniting in meaningful ways, and further contributing to this record-setting year.
“As we close this historic year, I am honored to build upon the strong foundation laid by my predecessor, Dr. Neal Smatresk,” said Dr. Harrison Keller, UNT President. “The incredible generosity shown by our donors this year is a testament to their belief in UNT’s mission to provide exceptional educational opportunities and drive innovation. I am excited to lead UNT into the future, ensuring that we continue to inspire and empower our students.”
This fundraising success underscores UNT’s commitment to excellence and the unwavering support of our donors, alumni and friends. Looking forward, UNT remains committed to sustaining a steady state of $50M per year in fundraising over the next five years. This goal reflects the university’s ambition to continuously expand its resources and impact, ensuring that UNT can continue to support student success and thrive for generations to come.
This record-breaking year in fundraising is not just a celebration of what has been achieved, but a call to action for the UNT community to continue supporting the university’s mission. Every gift is crucial in shaping the future of UNT and its students.
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About UNT
Ranked a Tier One research institution by the Carnegie Classification, UNT is one of the nation’s largest public research universities with more than 46,000 students pursuing their passions so they can become tomorrow’s leaders. UNT is recognized as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving Institution dedicated to inclusion and reflecting the population of Texas. UNT students earned nearly 13,000 degrees last year in 240 degree programs, many nationally and internationally recognized. With a focus on graduating career-ready students at an affordable cost, UNT has served as a catalyst for creativity since its founding in 1890, continually fueling progress, entrepreneurship and innovation for the North Texas region, the state – and beyond.
The UNT community is guided by five shared values – Courageous Integrity, Be Curious, We Care, Better Together and Show Your Fire.