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Donor giving in college sports is more important than it’s ever been. NIL has created a need for cashflow as player payment directly impacts the ability for teams to recruit talent.
In addition to those NIL programs, money received can be used to upgrade facilities to provide student-athletes with the latest and greatest in terms of both equipment and perks. All play a role in success.
UCLA kickstarted its 2026 calendar year with a $17.3 million gift to be used for athletics. A number of others experienced similar donations to support their college sports ventures in 2025.
What were the largest individual donations in college sports?
We’ve identified eight of the biggest gifts received by major college athletics programs over the last 12 months. The beneficiaries include schools from all over the country.
The large majority are Power 4 competitors, though there is one exception. These gifts will pay immediate dividends in major sports like football and basketball, as well as non-revenue programs.
Let’s take a look at those gifts in order from most to least.
Michigan State
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Donor: Greg and Dawn Williams
Amount: $401 million
The Spartans secured a $401 million gift in December, $390 million of which is to be used directly for athletics. Of the one-time donation, $290 million is in support of Spartan Athletics as part of FOR SPARTA: The Capital Initiative for MSU Athletics.
Another $100 million was invested in an “entity to be formed by the affiliated organization Spartan Ventures.” The donation was the largest gift in school history and will help to make Michigan State a major player in the Big Ten moving forward.
Kansas
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Donor: David Booth
Amount: $300 million
The Jayhawks landed a $300 million donation all to be used towards athletics in August of 2025. Of the gift, 25% will be directed to facility upgrades in the form of football stadium renovations.
The remaining $225 million is to be used to help Kansas stay competitive in recruiting, particularly in football and basketball. At the time of receival, it was believed to be the single largest college athletics donation before being bested by the Williams and Michigan State.
Illinois
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Donor: Larry Gies
Amount: $100 million
In September, the Illini landed a $100 million donation from Larry Gies. One of the most influential philanthropists in the school’s history, the football stadium was named after him (Gies Memorial) as a result.
“Sports is how most people first experience the University of Illinois – it’s the front door of the amazing house we are building,” Gies said of his decision to support athletics. His gift will work to continue the school’s recent success in both football and basketball.
Creighton
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Donor: Heider Family Foundation
Amount: $100 million
Creighton was given a $100 million donation to help support a $300 million initiative to “reshape a 12-block recreational and athletic corridor on the east side of campus for students, student-athletes, faculty, staff, friends and fans, while strengthening the University’s ties to Omaha.”
The project will include new athletics facilities and upgrades for those already in place to cover approximately 700,000 square feet of campus. Most notable are a brand-new building designed strictly for student-athletes, as well as new baseball and softball fields.
Stanford
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Donor: Bradford Freeman
Amount: $50 million
Freeman, a former Stanford player, gifted the Cardinal $50 million to be spent on football. It is believed to be the largest individual gift in program history.
The gift came in October amid a 4-8 season on the gridiron. Freeman hopes his gift will be able to shift the tides after a fifth consecutive losing campaign.
His donation will be used to enhance player support, scholarships and institutional name, image and likeness initiatives.
Virginia Tech
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Donor: Anonymous
Amount: $20 million
In December, the Hokies announced a $20 million gift to be used for athletics. That donation is dedicated to “better position teams to compete at the highest level,” with an emphasis on football.
The money was pledged soon after the football team hired head coach James Franklin in the offseason. The gift will “advance the university’s strategy — known as Invest to Win — to empower Virginia Tech Athletics to excel in the NCAA’s current Division I and Football Bowl Subdivision I landscapes.”
It is the largest gift in Virginia Tech athletics history, besting the previous mark of $17.2 million set in 2017.
Utah
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Donor: Anonymous
Amount: $14 million
The Utes received a $14 million gift in March dedicated strictly for the school’s women’s sports programs. The anonymous donation was an estate gift from a donor said to have been impacted by a previous $6 million pledge to Utah’s female sports teams.
The combined $20 million will help the school launch the Crimson Club Legacy Society, which “honors individuals and families who contribute to the development of such excellence by leaving the ultimate legacy for University of Utah student-athletes, coaches and athletic programs through charitable estate gifts.”
Indiana
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Donor: Mark Cuban
Amount: Unknown
Hoosier alum Mark Cuban provided his alma mater with a major athletic department donation at the end of 2025, much of which will be used to fund the football team’s NIL initiatives. The timing aligned perfectly with a recruiting push, coming days before the January transfer portal window opened.
While Cuban’s gift amount is unknown, it is believed to be significant. He admitted that it was larger than his 2024 donation to support Indiana football.
His previous donation paid immediate dividends as the Hoosiers will play for a national championship against Miami. His most recent gift will be used to keep the train rolling.