Alumni and friends supported University of the Pacific in record numbers last year, creating new opportunities for students and advancing initiatives that will extend Pacific’s impact far beyond its campuses.

More than 9,000 donors gave to Pacific in 2025-26, including nearly 4,000 first-time donors. That unprecedented level of participation helped generate nearly $63 million in philanthropic support, the second-highest fundraising total in Pacific’s history.

"We are tremendously grateful for the outpouring of generosity Pacific received last year, from supporters at every level and particularly from those who invested in our students and programs for the first time,” said President Christopher Callahan. “Every gift represents someone’s belief in our mission and confidence in our future."

That generosity expanded opportunities for students, providing a record number of scholarships, funding new research and hands-on learning ventures, and advancing student-focused initiatives across all three campuses.

Among the most transformative projects funded is the planned School of Medicine, slated to open on the Stockton Campus in 2030. The school will help address critical physician shortage across central California by educating future doctors and expanding the region's physician pipeline.

In May, Pacific launched a $150 million campaign to establish the medical school. Supporters' confidence was evident ahead of the public launch, with early gifts driving the broader surge in giving across the university.

Donors also helped complete a new Southwest Hall, now home to nearly 400 students, and advanced progress on the Jie Du Inn, which will operate in collaboration with students from the Eberhardt School of Business. 

Philanthropy funded the student-athlete and sports medicine center to provide training, rehabilitation and nutritional support for Pacific’s 21 Division I athletic teams, and the San Francisco-based ambulatory surgery center and multidisciplinary advanced care clinics, which will offer dental care for special needs populations throughout California.

"Our donors are not just helping to build buildings—they're providing spaces and experiences that will equip students to make a difference in the world," said Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Scott Biedermann '05, '20. "We are encouraged that more alumni and friends than ever have joined us to shape the university's future and change students’ lives." 

During the 2025-26 academic year, philanthropy had a direct and immediate impact on students. Donors provided scholarships for more than 1,800 students, an increase of nearly 300 students from the year before.

"My scholarship is not just a financial gift; it’s a reminder that there are people who believe in students like me and in the power of education to change lives,” said Luis Torres Gutierrez '26. “Pursuing higher education hasn’t always been easy, but this support has eased the financial burden while motivating me to keep pushing forward."

Throughout the year, donors helped students conduct innovative research, study abroad, explore prospective career paths and pursue co-curricular passions.

Philanthropy also helped cover students' basic needs. Nearly 300 students visited the donor-funded Pacific Food Pantry last year, while nearly 100 received emergency aid to cover unforeseen expenses.

Student experiences were a primary focus of Pacific Gives, the university's annual day of giving in April, which raised a record-breaking $3.1 million. New donors comprised nearly half of all giving day participants. 

"An increase in giving means that more people are acknowledging the impact of a Pacific education and want to sustain that opportunity for future generations. We are truly thankful to everyone who has stepped up," Biedermann said.

As Pacific continues to introduce new programs and resources for students, it looks to its community of supporters to sustain this momentum.

"To continue our 175-year tradition of innovation, we need our Pacific family's support. You've shown us you're willing and able, and the more everyone continues leaning into our mission, the more we can do for students both now and in the future," Biedermann said.

To learn more, contact Scott Biedermann at 209.946.2166 or sbiedermann@pacific.edu.