UT San Antonio raises $148 million from 14,300 donors in first unified year
The merged university secured major gifts for public health, scholarships, and research while expanding its endowment market value to $1.4 billion.
By Jonathan Ramirez ·
UT San Antonio raised $148 million from more than 14,300 donors during fiscal year 2026, marking the first full year of operation since merging with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The university reported that these 27,400 individual gifts support its status as the third-largest public research institution in Texas, serving over 44,000 students and employing 17,000 faculty and staff members.
President Taylor Eighmy attributed the financial growth to the generosity of individuals who invest in the university's mission. He stated that philanthropy fuels student success and attracts talent, calling it a catalyst for building a Top 20 public research university. The university generated over $521 million in annual research expenditures during this period.
A portion of the funds came from large institutional commitments. The Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation pledged $30 million to support the newly named Kate Marmion School of Public Health. This funding supports scholarships, fellowships, and research aimed at improving health outcomes in rural South Texas. Longtime supporters Ed and Linda Whitacre gave $7 million to advance metabolic health research and engineering education, with $5 million honoring the late William L. Henrich.
Local philanthropist Harvey E. Najim committed $5 million to establish the Harvey Najim Bold Promise Scholarship. This fund helps students with financial need pursue degrees by reducing barriers to success. Najim also pledged $6.5 million to support future pediatric professionals in dentistry, medicine, and nursing. In total, Najim has invested over $25 million across the two former institutions.
Corporate partnerships contributed over $93 million through 2,440 awards. Valero announced a $1.5 million commitment to support scholarships and student success in engineering and business. The USAA Student Success Center at San Pedro II provides resources for students in the College of AI, Cyber and Computing, while H-E-B continues to fund experiential learning and data science education through its Community Innovation Scholars program.
Legacy planning also contributed to the financial growth. Donors established $13.5 million in legacy commitments through wills and estate plans. Dr. Linda A. Smith, a professor emeritus in medical laboratory sciences, created a planned gift to support Honors College and first-generation students in allied health and biomedical fields. Her charitable gift annuity will provide hands-on experiences and professional connections for future generations.
The university expanded its endowments to secure long-term stability. By the end of fiscal year 2026, the university held 1,437 endowments with a market value of $1.4 billion. This total includes 614 endowed scholarships, 390 endowed faculty positions, and 27 graduate fellowship endowments. Jim Reed, chair of the UT San Antonio Development Board, noted that these investments reflect confidence in the university's integrated structure.
Karl Miller-Lugo, senior vice president for Advancement and Alumni Engagement, said donors are increasingly investing in the unified institution as an anchor for San Antonio. The university plans to continue expanding these partnerships as it enters its second year as a single entity.
