Georgia State University’s supporters powered the institution to a new one-year fundraising record of $136.2 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

Highlighted by a transformative gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, individual donors and Georgia State’s corporate and foundation partners helped the university surpass its previous one-year fundraising record of $107.7 million set during the 2022 fiscal year. Additionally, Georgia State achieved record-breaking fundraising totals for direct student support — $22.8 million, surpassing the previous record of $18 million set last fiscal year — and increased scholarship dollars awarded by 14 perecent, up to $10.7 million.

“Georgia State University made history this year, and I’m grateful for our generous corporate and foundation partners, alumni, supporters and friends who helped us accomplish this milestone. With their generosity, they demonstrated their commitment to the university’s BluePrint to 2033 strategic plan — and backed our belief that Panther potential is a great investment,” said M. Brian Blake, president of Georgia State University. “Their gifts champion the breakthroughs and discoveries we make as a world-class research institution, elevate our nationally recognized student success efforts, strengthen career readiness and opportunity for all Panthers and help create a campus experience like no other.”

This year marked a pivotal time for Georgia State, with the university’s downtown Atlanta Campus undergoing and preparing for unprecedented growth. Thanks to the historic $80 million gift from the Woodruff Foundation, the university will soon begin its largest transformation project ever. The plan will consist of nine projects, including a Greenway expansion, facade improvements to several campus buildings and renovations to central walkways surrounding Woodruff Park. Once complete, the project will vastly reimagine the campus experience and advance Blake’s goal of creating “a College Town Downtown.”

In January 2025, Georgia State broke ground on its new 155,000-square-foot Research Tower, a state-of-the-art facility set to be completed in 2026. With updated laboratories, flexible research space and modern teaching environments, the nine-story Research Tower represents a crucial step forward in Georgia State’s commitment to furthering research, innovation and placemaking efforts within downtown Atlanta.

As these successes pave the way for Georgia State’s upcoming growth, the university already reached significant milestones in the past year alone. The university completed renovations to the historic Southern Bell Telephone Company Buildings located at 25-27 Auburn Ave. to house the new Student Success Center — a project funded primarily through philanthropic support. The new Student Success Center will serve as a one-stop hub for Georgia State’s nationally recognized student success services and headquarters for the National Institute for Student Success (NISS).

The institution also set a new Georgia State Day record on the university’s seventh annual day of giving held April 2-3, reaching over $1 million raised for the first time in GSU’s history thanks to the support of nearly 2,000 donors and more than 2,300 gifts.

“We’re inspired by and grateful for the commitment of our donors and their record-breaking efforts to uplift our students,” said Cheryl Harrelson, vice president for University Advancement and president of the Georgia State University Foundation. “Donor support directly impacts students by contributing to innovative programs, easing students’ financial burdens and ensuring that every Panther is positioned for success after graduation. Donors show GSU students that their dreams and ambitions are worth investing in.”

Find a cause or program to support, make a gift and see the many ways donor generosity has made a difference in the lives of Georgia State students at giving.gsu.edu.