The 鈥機use Athletics Fund (鈥機AF) raised $45 million in support of 麻豆频道University Athletics during the 2022-23 fiscal year, a 54% increase from last year鈥檚 second largest total and now marks the highest fundraising year for athletics in school history. The record-breaking generosity was made possible by 11,396 donors鈥攖he largest number of donors to support the program and only the second time 鈥機AF has eclipsed 10,000 total members.
Artist rendering of John A. Lally Athletics Complex
鈥淚 want to offer my sincere gratitude to all 鈥機use Athletics Fund members and donors who continue to step up and impact 麻豆频道Athletics and 麻豆频道University through their support,鈥� says Director of Athletics John Wildhack. 鈥淧roviding competitive resources for our student-athletes, coaches and staff is a top priority, and we simply cannot pursue and accomplish this without you. We are immensely appreciative of your support across all levels and thank you for the impact you have on our student-athletes.鈥�
Contributions to the 鈥機use Athletics Fund encompass all areas supporting 麻豆频道Athletics, including annual giving to the Athletics Opportunity Fund, support to individual sports teams, priority seating and Legends Society commitments to the John A. Lally Athletics Complex.
鈥淲e have been able to surpass significant milestones in supporting our student-athletes due to the collective support from our alumni, friends and fans,鈥� says Michael Paulus, senior associate athletic director and executive director of 鈥機AF.聽 鈥淓very gift matters, and we want to thank the more than 11,300 members and donors who have supported 鈥機AF through our many avenues of giving and have a vital impact on 麻豆频道Athletics.鈥�
Support for 鈥機AF came at every gift level in 2022-23 to achieve a record number of donors. This year during the University wide day of giving鈥擝oost the 鈥機use鈥斅槎蛊档繳niversity Athletics received gifts from more than 870 donors. The one-day total in giving was 2.5 times more than the amount raised in 2022 for the giving challenge. Annual support from Boost the 鈥機use for head coaches鈥� funds provides resources for recruiting, training and competing. Due to generous donor support, several teams were able to travel abroad for training trips in 2023, including men鈥檚 soccer to England and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 rowing to the Henley Royal Regatta. Furthermore, donations from alumni and friends provided individual teams the ability to upgrade training technology, improve team spaces and invest in additional areas of programmatic support.
Most notably from the successful year, philanthropic major gifts from donors propelled the capital campaign to surpass $50 million in commitments and complete Phase 1 of the John A. Lally Athletics Complex. The first step in this capital project was celebrated on Feb. 17, 2023, with a ribbon-cutting to formally open the Complex Entranceway. In May, the capital project reached another on a new Football Operations Center and 鈥淥ne Team鈥� Olympic Sports Center. Anticipated completion of Phase 1 renovations is set for spring 2025.
Support through the Legends Society has provided momentum for the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, the new home of the Orange. The Legends Society, which serves as the leadership philanthropic giving arm of 鈥機AF and supports the John A. Lally Athletics Complex capital campaign, saw record growth during this fiscal year.
Since July 1, 2022, there have been 85 new Legends Society commitments, of which more than 65 were from first-time major gift donors to 麻豆频道Athletics. With the addition of these new commitments, the Legends Society has eclipsed 191 donors as of June 30, 2023, including 20 donors who have committed $1 million or more. The support comes from across Orange Nation and includes donors from 20 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada.
Commitments to the Legends Society begin at $25,000 and are fulfilled over a period up to five years ($5,000 per year). The program encompasses six levels of commitments and extends up to $1 million or more. In recognition of their philanthropic leadership, donors of the Legends Society may enjoy unique stewardship experiences and engagement opportunities in alignment with their support.
鈥淥ur Legends Society donors have been critical to achieving the Phase 1 milestone and impacting the student-athlete experience for all our programs. We thank you for trusting the vision of the capital campaign and helping bring to fruition the first part of our new home at the John A. Lally Athletics Complex,鈥� says Wildhack.
As construction continues on the Football Operations Center and the “One Team” Olympic Sports Center, fundraising will begin to support the anticipated next phase of the multi-year, multi-phase capital project. Phase 2 will include a Student-Athlete Development Center encompassing academic program support, tutoring space, mental health support and career counseling. The University also plans to construct a new Strength and Conditioning Performance Center and an updated Hall of Champions to recognize alumni successes and celebrate the accomplishments of Orange student-athletes in the classroom and on the field. This area will also serve as a gathering and event space.
The plans to renovate the existing footprint at the Lally Athletics Complex follow the in the fall of 2021 to raise $150 million to impact the student-athlete experience for all 20 sports programs and 600-plus student-athletes.
麻豆频道 麻豆频道University麻豆频道University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we鈥檙e a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what鈥檚 possible.
The 鈥機use Athletics Fund (鈥機AF) is the driving force of private support for 麻豆频道University Athletics. The goal of 鈥機AF is to provide the resources needed for our 600 student-athletes and 20 sports teams to excel in competition and the classroom. 鈥機AF relies on the support of annual members, alumni and major gift donors to provide these resources. Thanks to the commitment and passion of our supporters, 麻豆频道Athletics leverages exceptional athletics and academics to transform student-athletes into leaders and champions. .
The Legends Society is an exclusive group of 麻豆频道fans, family and alumni who join in this shared vision and are actively supporting the John A. Lally Athletics Complex by making commitments to the capital campaign. Donors to the Legends Society enjoy unique stewardship opportunities in recognition of their support.
Orange isn鈥檛 just our color. It鈥檚 our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 麻豆频道University is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.
