USF Athletics development arm raised a record $22 million during the past fiscal year
TAMPA, AUG. 17, 2022 – With the transformation of USF Athletics’ facilities gaining increasing moment, the USF Bulls Club recorded a banner fiscal year in 2021-22, posting a record-setting total of $22 million raised and $1.2-million in unrestricted gifts to the Bulls Club Annual Fund.
Also highlighting the past year was the completion of fundraising for the USF Indoor Performance Facility, which has nearly completed construction and is slated for opening later this fall. The $25 million project, which included a new locker room, meeting rooms and office improvements in the Selmon Athletics Center completed in 2021, was funded entirely by private, cash donations from generous Bulls Club supporters. The year also included the introduction of an on-campus football stadium project that has since moved through many initial steps toward a goal of opening in 2026. The two endeavors will forever change the landscape of USF’s Tampa campus for generations to come.
“The energy and enthusiasm surrounding USF Athletics, both externally and within our program and university, is very high and reflected in the tremendous giving totals from the last year,” Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said. “Our fans and supporters understand this is a very crucial time for our university and athletics department and they are excited about embracing the transformational opportunities that lie ahead. The alignment of our leadership – from the Board of Trustees to our president, the USF Foundation, USF Alumni Association, athletics administrators and coaches – has never been greater and Bulls Nation is growing in numbers, commitment and passionate support.”
The Bulls Club team closed 16 gifts of $50,000 or more in 2021-22, an increase of 23 percent from the previous fiscal year. The total raised by the Bulls Club was over $19.2 million, which is also a new fiscal year record for USF Athletics. The record-breaking total was an increase of nearly $15.7-million in funds raised from the previous fiscal year.
While welcoming 25 new Iron Bulls (donors of $10,000 or more yearly) in 2021-22, the Bulls Club also secured eight seven-figure gifts to the department, three of which were gifts of $5 million or more.
“I’d like to thank Bulls Nation for continuing to help us reach new heights,” Deputy Director of Athletics Lelo Prado said. “We need you now more than ever, and these records are because of you. I’d like to thank my tremendous Bulls Club staff for all of their tireless efforts this past year. They did an amazing job and I am so proud of them.”
For more information on the Bulls Club, please visit mybullsclub.com. If you’re interested in becoming a member of the Bulls Club, please contact Chris Black by email at [email protected].
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About USF Athletics
USF Athletics currently sponsors 19 varsity men’s and women’s teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference, which will expand to 21 teams with the recently announced additions of women’s lacrosse (2023-24) and women’s beach volleyball (2024-25). The Bulls’ athletic program began in 1965 and completed its 55th season in 2020-21. Nearly 450 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 26 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, including seven trophies in the 2021 calendar year, and own 136 conference titles in department history. The Bulls have posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for seven straight years and have posted a program-record 14 straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0 as of the fall of 2021. USF has had over 500 student-athletes earn their degree since 2016-17.
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