Celebrating Generosity

Welcome Donors, Alumni and Friends!

A Letter From

Richard P. Virgin, PhD

Vice President for University Advancement at the University of San Diego

Thank you for being a part of shaping the mission-driven university we are today and for the lead role you continue to play in our bright future. Your generosity helps provide students with a world-class education and ensures they have access to the scholarships, programs and resources that allow them to thrive in every aspect of their lives.

In 2025, USD launched a Year of Wellness to celebrate, strengthen and sustain the many ways our people and programs come together in this unique place to help our campus community thrive in mind, body and spirit. Because of donor support, students have access to holistic programs that foster physical health, mental resilience and a sense of belonging.

During the 2024-25 fiscal year, the University of San Diego received more than $151 million in philanthropic donations, grants and contracts. The university was also selected to host the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, recognizing our commitment to partnering with communities to serve the public good. Our programs continue to rank among the best in the nation, notably ranking second in Study Abroad participation.

Our graduates are finding success after graduation and leading inspired, meaningful lives. Within six months of graduating, more than 94% of the Class of 2025 were employed, enrolled in continuing education, serving in the military or participating in service programs. Every donation, regardless of size, plays a pivotal role in making all these positive outcomes possible.

We continue to celebrate and honor our donors as we lay the foundation for our path ahead. Our current strategic plan, Lighting the Way Forward to 2030, is an ambitious roadmap designed to foster personal and academic growth and empower all across our campus to make a positive difference in the world.

As we say on campus, "USD Begins with Us!" Your generosity, guided by the high principles that define this university, gives us confidence that USD's best days are still to come. Together, we will continue providing an education grounded in values and preparing future leaders with courage, creativity and conviction.

Points of Impact

Your donations are felt in ways big and small throughout the student experience at USD.

New Facilities for Shiley STEM Initiative Take Shape

Thanks to a historic $75 million gift from Board of Trustees Chair Emerita Darlene Marcos Shiley, the university is in the process of developing exciting new spaces for students and faculty in the STEM disciplines. The new three-story facility will catapult USD's footprint in the STEM space regionally and nationally.

Together for Wellness: Be Well USD

At the opening of the Palomar Health Student Wellness Center in April 2025, USD Vice President of Student Affairs Charlotte Johnson announced a "Year of Wellness" institutional initiative. As a university rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, USD is committed to supporting Toreros in mind, body and spirit.

Record-Breaking Torero Tuesday Raises $3.4 Million

Another Torero Tuesday is in the books–the history books. In 2025, more than 3,300 donors gave a record-breaking $3.4 million, eclipsing the previous year's mark by more than $1 million. The money raised from Torero Tuesday helps fund more than 115 initiatives and scholarships across campus, and more.

USD Wine Classic Raises $60K in Net Proceeds for Student Scholarships

USD welcomed more than 650 guests to the scenic Garden of the Sea at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice for the 17th annual USD Wine Classic in July 2025. The annual summer event is a fundraiser for the Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund and has raised more than $1 million in net proceeds for student scholarships since its inception.

Thanks to Your Scholarship Support,

Students get the support they need, and more dollars are being awarded.

66%

of our undergraduate, graduate and law students rely on USD scholarships and grants (Fall 2024 Enrolled Students)

$30 million

increase in the total amount of financial aid awarded to our students (Fiscal Year 2023-24 to Fiscal Year 2024-25)

With Gratitude

Hear from some of this year's scholarship recipients:

Nicholas '27

"USD has been a transformative place for me. This scholarship not only helps ease the financial burden of my education but also motivates me to continue striving for excellence and to give back to others in the future."

Kyla '27

"Thank you for your generosity and for making opportunities like this possible. Your support has a lasting impact, and I am committed to honoring it through hard work, service and a continued dedication to the values that make USD such a special place."

Aidan '26

"What makes USD special to me is the kind of community it creates — one that's driven, tight-knit and genuinely supportive. It's not just a place to study; it's a place that really pushes you to think about who you want to be and what kind of impact you want to make. Thank you for helping make it possible for students like me to continue our time here at USD."

Nallely '26

"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for investing in me and in the future of education. Your generosity has changed my life, and I carry that gratitude with me in every class I teach, every paper I write and every act of service I take on as part of this journey."

Make Your Donation Today!

Donor Recognition and Reports

The University of San Diego would not be the institution it is today without the generous support of our wonderful donors.

Endowment Reporting President's Club President's Report Stewardship Reports

Get Involved

See our upcoming events open to USD donors of all levels:

In the News

Want to Learn More?

Our world needs the hope of USD's community of Changemakers now more than ever – and as we forge our path forward, we need you and your continued support.

Contact us by email at presidentsclub@sandiego.edu to learn more.

Make a gift

Every contribution to USD is viewed as important. Whether it is great or small, donations like yours help build our Torero future.

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