Nearly 9,000 individuals made gifts impacting Furman students this year.\u00a0 The gifts supported annual operations, academic departments, institutes and centers, and athletic teams.\u00a0 Donors continue to secure Furman\u2019s future through endowed gifts, adding 23 new funds that will provide support in perpetuity.<\/p>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/07\/061226_Summer-Orientation_32-768x502.jpg\")
Furman students welcome incoming Paladins at summer orientation. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.<\/p><\/div>\n
Among the donors are nearly 4,000 supportive alumni whose Paladin passion runs deep. That passion doesn’t stop at a gift: More than 8,000 alumni have engaged with current students as mentors, hired Furman interns, spoken in a class, attended an event, or donated to their alma mater. Within that group, 100 alumni serve as board and council members, and 900 connected with the next generation of Paladins, sharing their career conversations with current students and drawing the wider Furman community into that work. We encourage all alumni to help the next generation of Paladins and connect with one another through The Furman Network<\/a>. The Young Alumni Council established a new program, Beyond the Bell Tower, linking current students and alumni to focus on careers.<\/p>\n “Alumni returned virtually and in-person to campus to share their honest perspectives on life after college, career transitions, navigating today’s job market, personal well-being, and the evolving workplace,\u201d said Morgan Cooper \u201920, Young Alumni Council president. \u201cThose experiences help students feel more prepared for the opportunities and challenges ahead. More importantly, we remind students that they are joining a lifelong community of Paladins who are invested in their success long after graduation.”<\/p>\n Thousands of Furman supporters participated in the 12th annual Dins Day, raising more than $1.3 million celebrating Paladin pride and generosity. Furman\u2019s athletic teams led the way with more than 2,000 donors.\u00a0 Total giving supporting athletics surpassed more than $12.5 million during the fiscal year.<\/p>\n Furman men\u2019s soccer coach Doug Allison, middle, joins his players in lifting the SoCon Championship trophy. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.<\/p><\/div>\n Giving makes opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n Furman provides students with a college experience that encourages and promotes their success in and out of the classroom, and donors who believe in these life-changing opportunities help fund the Paladin experience. In 2026, the generosity of our alumni, parents and friends resulted in commitments of nearly $22 million for scholarship support.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery student who walks through Furman’s gates deserves the chance to dream boldly, regardless of their financial circumstances,\u201d said Furman Trustee Rachelle Harley Thompson \u201992. \u201cEstablishing my scholarship was my way of opening that door for future generations. The greatest legacy we can leave is the lives we transform through education. As we celebrate Furman’s Bicentennial and look toward our third century, I hope others will join me in investing in talented students whose dreams will become Furman’s next great story.\u201d<\/p>\n Thanks to donors, Furman is able to fulfill its promise of providing institutional aid to all students with demonstrated financial need, making a Furman education accessible to talented students.<\/p>\n Expanding scholarship support remains the top priority at Furman, as it improves access, boosts competitiveness and drives student success.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is essential that Furman be accessible to all who will flourish there. Helping future generations is deeply gratifying,\u201d said Furman Trustee Lee Dilworth \u201983 and wife Julie Krug \u201984 Dilworth.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/2026\/07\/111625_Mens-Soccer_SoCon_021-768x530.jpg\")