DENTON (UNT), Texas — Through the generosity of 5,933 donors, University of North Texas received $69.86 million in commitments during the last fiscal year, building on years of philanthropic growth and strengthening support for students, academic programs, research and additional strategic priorities across the university.

“At UNT, philanthropy accelerates what is possible,” said UNT President Harrison Keller, Ph.D. “It helps talented students earn degrees that change the trajectories of their and their families’ lives. It expands opportunities for our faculty and students to make new discoveries and creative contributions of public value. And it strengthens UNT’s ability to develop the talent, ideas and innovation that will drive the future.

“Our donors are investing in the university and in what UNT makes possible for our region, our state, our nation, and our world.”

Across UNT, donors turned that belief into action. Their support reached a student body of more than 42,000, while strengthening an R1 research university in the heart of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions. Their investments are expanding what UNT can do for its students, for the North Texas region and for a state whose future depends on an educated workforce, new ideas and continued discovery.

"These results reflect the extraordinary momentum we are seeing across the university and the confidence our donors have in UNT's future," said Brandon Buzbee, vice president for university advancement. “UNT is a place where philanthropy can go farther and accomplish more. It can open doors to economic mobility and change the trajectory of families for generations, while also accelerating discovery and research in areas critical to our future. Our donors see the opportunity in front of UNT, and their generosity is helping us realize it.”

A Year of Historic Giving

Among the year's most significant commitments was an anonymous estate gift of about $20 million to establish a permanent scholarship endowment in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. Announced in January, the commitment is the largest scholarship gift in university history and will provide full cost-of-attendance scholarships for high-achieving undergraduate students.

The year also brought the largest philanthropic gift in UNT Athletics history. Alumni Tom and Kristy Weger committed $4.6 million to support the expansion of the UNT Athletic Center and establish the Weger Family Strength and Conditioning Center, which will provide advanced training and recovery resources for student-athletes across all Mean Green sports.

These commitments reflect one of the central goals of the $100 million Better Look North student success campaign: ensuring talented students have access to the resources and opportunities needed to persist, graduate and thrive after college.

The Power of Collective Giving

During UNT Day of Giving, more than 1,500 alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends contributed more than $1.78 million in a single day in support of programs and initiatives across campus. Significantly, volunteer ambassadors inspired 485 gifts, extending the reach of a day that has become one of UNT’s strongest demonstrations of collective philanthropy.

The year's fundraising success was driven not only by transformational commitments but also by broad participation from alumni and friends. More than 6,623 donors contributed to the Better Look North campaign throughout the year, including 3,924 alumni donors — underscoring the continued commitment of both UNT graduates and friends of the university to helping future generations succeed.

Better Look North was built around a reality familiar to many UNT students: Talent and ambition alone do not eliminate the financial pressures, unexpected setbacks and competing responsibilities that can stand between a student and a degree. The ambitious campaign is expanding the support that helps students keep going — from scholarships and emergency assistance to research, internships, mentorship and other experiences that turn a UNT education into opportunity after graduation.

Looking Ahead

UNT’s fundraising momentum is continuing into the new academic year, with donors investing in both student opportunity and UNT’s growing research enterprise.

Earlier this month, UNT announced a transformational $20 million gift from Anuradha and Vikas Sinha to advance artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, establishing support for the new College of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics. The gift reflects the growing confidence donors have in UNT's vision and the expanding role philanthropy can play in advancing the university’s ambitions.

“We are grateful for what our donors have already made possible, and we are just getting started,” Keller said. “UNT is growing in ambition, in research strength and in the impact we have far beyond our campuses. We have an extraordinary opportunity in front of us, and we intend to make the most of it.”