Baylor University raises record $245M in FY 2026 to fuel academics, research, scholarships

Baylor University in Waco, Texas, has announced $244.5 million in fundraising for fiscal year 2026 in  support of scholarships, academic programs, research, endowed faculty positions, student life, athletics, and global initiatives. The record haul includes gifts, pledges and planned gifts from nearly 25,000 donors. A key driver was a new scholarship initiative that attracted more than $80.5 million that will fund 87 new scholarship programs. Major foundation awards included a $30 million gift from the Moody Foundation to its namesake school of education and two awards totaling $14.76 million from the Lilly Endowment to advance theological education, disability inclusion, and faculty research.