The “SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow” multiyear fundraising campaign is concluding with more than $1.64 billion raised.

That puts it among the largest private university fundraising campaigns in Texas history.

“Since launching in 2021, the SMU Ignited campaign for impact has promoted pioneering research and teaching, support for outstanding students, and the enhancement of our campus and community,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said in a statement. “Donor support has fueled an era of unprecedented impact and national prominence in academics and athletics. The university will be forever grateful to our supporters for creating an exciting future through their enduring dedication and boundless generosity.”

Wrapping up 3 years ahead of schedule

SMU said that with more than 67,500 donors, volunteers, and supporters, the campaign surpassed its $1.5 billion goal three years ahead of schedule. The university said the results of the campaign are 50% higher than the final results of the University’s previous campaign—on a much shorter timeline.

The university said it joins several elite universities that have concluded fundraising campaigns totaling $1.5 billion or more, including fellow ACC members Stanford, Duke, and Miami.

SMU Ignited is the third comprehensive campaign initiated under Turner’s leadership, the university said. Its $1.5 billion goal started as the largest fundraising target ever set by a private school in North Texas.

Over the last 30 years, SMU has raised more than $3 billion for new scholarships, student support, capital projects and academic positions and programs, the university said, in addition to contributions for the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

The SMU Ignited campaign impacted “every area of the university,” SMU said, generating momentum for continuous growth at SMU.

Tallying a list of accomplishments

Donors provided 554 new endowed scholarships and fellowships, 37 new endowed academic positions, 23 major new and renovated facilities, and 20 major academic initiatives and institutes—and contributed to a 59% increase in research expenditures, SMU said.

“We are deeply grateful to all the SMU Ignited donors and volunteers. Their generosity and ongoing commitment to the university have been crucial to helping us achieve this great milestone,” David B. Miller, SMU board of trustees chair, said in a statement. “That incredible support has enabled us to attract gifted students and exceptional faculty, champion bold research, and significantly enhance both our academic and athletic facilities. As a result of those collective achievements, SMU has never had greater momentum, and we are poised to take the University to even higher levels of national prominence.”

The university said that several donors made transformational gifts that set new SMU records, including the following:

:: The Moody Foundation gave $100 million—the largest gift in SMU history—to create the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

:: Carolyn and David B. Miller committed $50 million—the largest contribution in SMU history from an alumni family—to support the Cox School of Business.

:: The Garry Weber Foundation made the largest gift ever to SMU Athletics: $50 million for the Garry Weber End Zone Complex at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

:: William S. Spears contributed the largest gift by a non-alum to establish the William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership in the Cox School of Business.

:: Jan and Trevor D. Rees-Jones committed $30 million to the construction and endowment of the Rees-Jones Library of the American West, plus the gift of the Rees-Jones Collection valued at over $100 million, then continued to make significant contributions for collection enhancement and expenses related to the incorporation of the collection into the SMU library system.

‘Major milestones’ for SMU

The university said it achieved major milestones during the campaign, including attaining Research One (R1) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, entering the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference, and increasing student recruitment “significantly.”

Undergraduate applications in 2025 were 59% higher than when the campaign launched in 2021.

While the SMU Ignited campaign will conclude on May 31 ahead of schedule, the university said its commitment to fundraising in support of students, faculty, and facilities remains strong.

SMU said efforts will be ongoing for capital, current-use funds, endowment gifts and key priorities such as scholarships, faculty positions, athletics and school initiatives. Volunteer fundraising committees and executive boards will remain active to address pressing needs and support SMU schools and units.

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