UCLA's athletic department has announced it received more than $41 million in private donations during the 2025-26 fiscal year. This figure, contributed by over 6,500 donors, represents an 80.6% increase in private support compared to two years prior and signifies one of the most successful fundraising periods in the department's history.
The influx of cash comes at a critical time for the department, which has not operated in the black since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The surge in donations is partly attributed to the recent hiring of football coach Bob Chesney, whose arrival has reportedly energized the fanbase.
Within the department's donor base, the 42 Society, which comprises individuals who commit $100,000 or more annually to athletics, has grown to 40 members. A significant contribution was a $10 million endowment from alumnus Angelo M. Mazzone III, intended to fund the naming rights for the UCLA head football coach position. Additionally, UCLA received multiple gifts exceeding $1 million and welcomed seven new members to its 1919 Society, recognizing cumulative seven-figure donations.
"The Bruin family has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to our student-athletes by helping to provide an elite experience both on and off the field," UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond stated. "As college athletics continues to evolve, our supporters have made it clear that UCLA intends to compete and win at the highest level. We are incredibly grateful to the thousands of Bruins whose generosity is helping to shape the future of UCLA athletics."
These donations are designated to provide essential support for athletes across UCLA's 25 varsity sports and to fund other departmental priorities. The school aims to maintain competitiveness in the evolving landscape of college athletics.