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SHSU Sets Fundraising Record with More Than $31.3 Million in Gifts and Commitments

September 11, 2026

SHSU Sets Fundraising Record with More Than $31.3 Million in Gifts and Commitments

Sam Houston State University set a new fundraising record in fiscal year 2026, generating $31,368,353.70 in gifts and commitments – the highest annual total in university history.

The total surpasses a record that had stood since 2012 and is 17% higher than the $26.8 million raised in fiscal year 2025. It also marks the fifth consecutive year of fundraising growth at SHSU.

During FY26, SHSU received 18,419 gifts, with 1,027 individuals making their first gift to the university. The year also included a record-setting Giving Day, which generated $564,375 in support for programs and priorities across SHSU.

“Service is at the heart of Sam Houston State, and this record reflects the many ways our donors and alumni live out that commitment,” said Alisa White, president. “Their generosity creates opportunities for students, strengthens our academic programs and helps SHSU continue serving Texas for generations to come.”

Donor support established 44 new endowments during the fiscal year, representing more than $15.1 million in gifts and commitments. Thirty of those were scholarship endowments, with an additional 15 current-use scholarship funds established to support SHSU students.

The year also included six gifts or commitments of $1 million or more, including a $10 million commitment from Quanta Services to establish the Quanta Services Athletic Quasi Endowment.

Once fully funded, the Quanta endowment will support a comprehensive student-athlete engagement experience designed to prepare Bearkats for opportunities during and beyond their collegiate careers. Programming will include career readiness, mentorship, leadership development and connections to trade, vocational, professional and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Philanthropic support during the year extended across the university, addressing needs ranging from student access and accessibility to academic research.

Among the new endowments established in FY26 is one supporting students in SHSU’s FORWARD Program who have experienced foster care, adoption or state guardianship. The Edwin Rumsey Accessibility Enrichment Endowment will help support services including narrators, interpreters and audio description while enhancing accessibility across campus. An endowment established for the School of Nursing will support efforts to recruit and retain nursing faculty.

“There is real momentum at Sam Houston State right now. We are growing, and our donors are showing up in meaningful ways to help move the university forward,” said Matt Bethea, vice president for University Advancement. “This record speaks to the confidence people have in SHSU and where we are headed. That success is also a credit to the hard work of our development team, whose focus on building relationships and connecting donors with meaningful opportunities is helping drive that momentum.”

The record year builds on several years of increased philanthropic support for SHSU as donors continue investing in students, faculty, research, programs and experiences across the university.

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