---
title: UMD Shatters Fundraising Record as Campaign Builds Momentum
date: 2026-09-04T11:00:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://terp.umd.edu/umd-shatters-fundraising-record-as-campaign-builds-momentum"
section: Articles
---
# UMD Shatters Fundraising Record as Campaign Builds Momentum

*September 4, 2026* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/authors/sala-levin-10), [John Tucker](/authors/john-tucker), [Chris Carroll](/authors/chris-carroll)


- *Photo by Dylan Singleton*

*Forward letters on McKeldin Mall. 

Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle/University of Maryland*

**THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND** recorded its most successful fundraising year in history, tallying $302 million as [*Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless*](https://forward.umd.edu/) caught fire.

From July 2025 through June 2026, 42,251 donors supported the university, representing a 5.7% increase over the previous year, along with a nearly 50% jump in total giving.

“We are fortunate to see our UMD community rally its support so generously at such an important time,” says Vice President for [University Relations](https://universityrelations.umd.edu/) Jim Harris. “Donors at every level are recognizing Maryland’s momentum and joining with us to bring impact to our campus and far beyond.”

The Forward campaign, launched last November, seeks to raise $2.5 billion to expand access to UMD’s world-class education, accelerate research that achieves real progress for real people, and unite Terps and allies to Do Good. Through donors’ support, the university has brought in more than $1.1 billion toward its goal.

Highlights included [a blockbuster Giving Day](https://today.umd.edu/giving-day-raises-record-smashing-9-4m), in which nearly 10,000 UMD supporters donated a total of $9.4 million in 24 hours, and a series of generous gifts throughout the year from benefactors including the [A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation](https://today.umd.edu/clark-foundation-invests-51-7m-to-support-engineering-scholarships-programming), civil engineering alum [Stanley Zupnik ’59](https://eng.umd.edu/facilities/zupnik-hall); and cell biology and molecular genetics [Professor Anne Simon](https://today.umd.edu/umd-researchers-16m-planned-gift-to-support-professors-postdocs-students).

Three significant new gifts continue to power the campaign forward:


### Smith Family's $10M Gift Boosts Performing Arts, Business School


*Illustration of a graph*


### Alum Gives $15M to Support New Golf Performance Center, Sports Management Program


*Illustration of a trophy*


### Brin Family's $8.16M Gift Honors Longtime Advocate of UMD Science and Arts


*Illustration of a microscope*


**Sidebar note:**

Join us in fueling unprecedented transformation for our students, state and world. Make a gift at [forward.umd.edu](https://forward.umd.edu).





**Issue:** [Fall 2026](https://terp.umd.edu/editions/fall-2026)


**Types:** [News](https://terp.umd.edu/category/news)