Longwood shatters fundraising record, raising historic $30.2 million

While the amount raised will likely draw the most attention, the real impact is in what those gifts will fund. All of these initiatives lean into priorities that Longwood has long championed, from educational outreach in our surrounding community to academic and financial support for our current and future students.

"And while the amount raised will likely draw the most attention, the real impact is in what those gifts will fund. All of these initiatives lean into priorities that Longwood has long championed, from educational outreach in our surrounding community to academic and financial support for our current and future students. We're grateful to our donors not just for their support, but for validating the impact Longwood has had on alumni across generations and community members who continue to engage with our university."

Among the year's major projects that support that institutional focus are the KAE Fund, supported by an eight-figure gift from former university president Dr. Janet Greenwood; the D. Michael and Tamara Bird Jones '81 Center for P-12 Outreach, funded by a legacy gift from Mike and Tammy Bird Jones '81; the Bowman-Ashby Scholars Program, endowed by a $1 million gift from William Bowman and Shirley Ashby in honor of Bowman's late mother, Anne Kelly Bowman '39; and The Honors Opportunities for Leadership Transformation (HOLT) Fund, funded by a $1 million gift from Linda Holt in tribute to her parents, the late Silas and Emma Holt.

The KAE Fund will serve as an incubator and accelerator to launch new initiatives, expand proven ideas and respond to new opportunities to support student success and enhance Longwood's academic reputation.

The Jones Center for P-12 Outreach will strengthen Longwood's connections with local PreK-12 schools, benefitting both Longwood students on the cusp of beginning teaching careers and students who live and learn in the communities surrounding campus.

The Bowman-Ashby Scholars Program supports five scholarships for graduate students-henceforth designated "Bowman-Ashby Scholars"-seeking to advance their studies in educational leadership.

Lastly, The HOLT Fund will support K-12 leadership curriculum development relevant to civics and other areas that tie into Longwood's Civitae Core Curriculum.

And while those financial gifts will yield immediate and long-term impacts for the university and surrounding region, the philanthropic surge only tells half the story.

As credit to the widespread support from the Longwood community, the broader fundraising success of the 2025-26 academic year is powered by more than major gifts. More than 6,200 of the donations received were less than $1,000, but totaled more than $540,000. Those contributions, which support dozens of departments and initiatives across campus, were sparked by a series of micro-giving campaigns, including Longwood's Annual Day of Giving and the inaugural Ready the Roster 24-hour giving campaign.

Additionally, the third annual Homecoming & Alumni Weekend drew another record crowd and a sellout basketball weekend, which featured back-to-back Lancer wins. The event, which launched in 2023, has grown not only in attendance but also in scope, expanding to include a full weekend's worth of events, including a pep rally, basketball tailgates, class reunions, distribution of the coveted Longwood scarves and more.

For more information about supporting Longwood or to make a donation, visit https://www.longwood.edu/development/make-an-impact/.

Highlights from FY2026

• Record-breaking annual fundraising total of $30.2 million
• 2,881 individual donors made gifts to Longwood
• 6,200+ gifts under $1,000 totaling more than $480,000
• Creation of 30 new endowed scholarships as part of the Family of Scholarship 2.0 program
• New endowments of eight professorships
• Launch of Ready the Roster 24-hour athletics giving campaign
• Record attendance at Homecoming & Alumni Weekend 2025
• For the Blue and White Society (athletics) membership reaches 30 individuals

Major Gifts

• Keystones for Academic Excellence (KAE) Fund : Funded by an 8-figure gift from former Longwood president Dr. Janet Greenwood, the KAE Fund will serve as an incubator and accelerator to launch new initiatives, expand proven ideas and respond to new opportunities to support student success and enhance Longwood's academic reputation.
• D. Michael and Tamara Bird Jones '81 Center for P-12 Outreach : Funded by a legacy gift from Mike and Tammy Bird Jones '81, the Jones Center will strengthen Longwood's connections with local PreK-12 schools, benefitting both Longwood students on the cusp of beginning teaching careers and students who live and learn in the communities surrounding campus.
• The Bowman-Ashby Scholars Program: Funded by a $1 million gift from William Bowman and Shirley Ashby, in tribute to Bowman's late mother, Anne Kelly Bowman '39, the Bowman-Ashby Scholars Program will support five scholarships for graduate students-designated "Bowman-Ashby Scholars"-seeking to advance their studies in educational leadership.
• The Honors Opportunities for Leadership Transformation (HOLT) Fund : Funded by a legacy gift in excess of $1 million from Linda K. Holt, in honor of her late parents, Silas and Emma Holt, The HOLT Fund will support K-12 leadership curriculum development relevant to civics and other areas that tie into Longwood's Civitae Core Curriculum.