CollegeAD: A New Era of Fundraising in College Athletics - Philanthropic Giving has Become Top Heavy

penryjason
Aug 28, 2023
1 min read

Updated: Jun 8, 2025

In a three-part series, Jason Penry, Founder of Penry Advisors, explores the trend of larger gifts that have opened up new opportunities for college athletics. He reflects on significant donations from the past, highlighting the impact of major gifts on transforming facilities and programs, emphasizing the need for focused cultivation and stewardship. This trend towards concentrating wealth is expected to intensify, with a reminder that strategic planning and prioritizing substantial contributions can make a significant difference in fundraising success.

Recent Posts

See All

Largest Gifts in the History of College Athletics

To serve as a resource to industry and researchers, Penry Advisors maintains a list of the largest gifts in the history of college athletics. The minimum size of the gift is $20 million to be included

Quoted in an Article about the Historic Gift to Michigan State Athletics

Summary provided by ChatGPT: "Penry is quoted as an expert commentator identifying the $401 million pledge from Greg and Dawn Williams as not just historic for Michigan State but also one of the large

'JR Morning Show Interview

On December 9, 2025, Penry Advisors' Jason Penry visited with the 'JR Morning Show in Detroit about a donor's massive $391 million commitment to MSU's athletic department.