Hobart and William Smith Colleges raised $33.1 million during the 2025-26 fiscal year, surpassing a $27.7 million goal as more than 5,000 donors supported students, academic programs and long-term campus priorities.
The Geneva colleges said 5,086 alumni, parents, students, trustees, faculty, staff and friends contributed, a 4.4% increase in donors from the prior year. The results included nine commitments of at least $1 million, the second-highest number in HWS history.
The Further Together campaign had secured $355 million in commitments as of June 30, including $223 million received in cash, toward a $400 million goal. Science-related priorities accounted for $42.1 million in commitments, including a $3 million state Higher Education Capital Matching Grant for the Fish Center for the Sciences.
The HWS Annual Fund raised a record $5.3 million from 3,220 donors, a 34.2% increase in dollars from the previous year and well above its $3 million target. The colleges said annual gifts support financial aid, academics, athletics, student opportunities and daily educational resources.
Athletics Day of Donors brought in a record $1.3 million over 24 hours. Reunion classes contributed $6 million from 1,991 donors, bringing their giving since previous milestone reunions to $20.7 million.
Young alumni participation rose to 14%, with 624 recent graduates donating, up two percentage points from fiscal 2025. Another 1,063 parents contributed $1.6 million, while 48% of the senior class made a gift through HWS Forever, compared with 32% a year earlier.
Trustees contributed $3.9 million during the year. HWS also reported $6.4 million in new bequests and planned-giving commitments, $31.9 million in realized bequests and 36 new members of the Wheeler Society for people who include the colleges in estate plans.
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Public and community support included $600,000 in the state budget for Finger Lakes Institute equipment and $380,000 for Geneva 2030, a program supporting local children from birth through career.
President Mark Gearan said the year's giving reflects confidence in the institution's future. Vice President for Advancement Jared Weeden said support came from thousands of participants rather than a single donor or initiative, while trustees Chair Joseph Stein said gifts of different sizes collectively fund current needs and future programs.
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