The St. Bonaventure Athletics Department established new annual fundraising records during the 2025-26 academic year.
Combining gifts to the Bonnies Athletic Fund (BAF), the Sixth Man Club, the Basketball Excellence Fund, and estate gifts, the Athletics Department raised $3.4 million, surpassing the previous standard by more than $1 million.
"Transforming lives through a student-athlete experience rooted in Excellence, Leadership and Service remains the Athletic Department's mission. The historic fundraising results from this past year help our team accomplish that mission," said Bob Beretta, Vice President and Director of Athletics. "Setting a new fundraising record is a testament to the commitment of our donors, alumni, fans and the entire St. Bonaventure community. This extraordinary support represents an investment in our student-athletes, providing them the opportunity to excel academically, compete for championships in the Atlantic 10 Conference and grow as leaders prepared to make a meaningful impact long after graduation. We are grateful to all who contributed to this outcome and ask for your continued support of the Bonnies."
The BAF reached its overall goal of $1.3 million with a total of $1,301,332, and set records for the number of donors, with 2,279.
The BAF reached its highest overall totals for unrestricted gifts and overall giving in any year when a major estate gift was not received. It also was the fourth consecutive year the BAF surpassed the $1 million mark.
On April 16, a historic Athletics Giving Day saw alumni, parents, fans, friends, and former student-athletes deliver the most successful campaign ever, raising a record-breaking $749,290 from 1,988 donors. Those marks established highs for both dollars raised and donor participation over the three years since Athletics Giving Day was founded. Since 2024, Athletics Giving Day support has nearly doubled, climbing from $392,142 to $749,290, while donor participation surged from 1,192 to 1,988. Giving Day included club sports for the second time.
Donors contributed nearly $1.5 million to the Men's Basketball Excellence Fund and $60,000 to the Women's Basketball Excellence Fund in support of institutional NIL (name, image and likeness). The Sixth Man Club, which supports operational excellence for the men's basketball program, raised $599,200 from 40 donors.
