- Private Philanthropy
- Planned Giving
Dennis & Eleni Assanis
Dear Friends,
Every day at UC Santa Barbara, we are inspired by the people who bring our mission to life. Our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters are in a class of their own. When we work together there is simply no limit to what we can accomplish, and you — our loyal alumni and friends — make everything possible and we are deeply grateful for your support.
UC Santa Barbara has always evolved to meet the needs of each era. Today, we are building on a historic legacy of innovation by preparing students to achieve success while developing the timeless skills needed to thrive throughout a lifetime. Our faculty are problem-solvers operating at the vanguard of their fields, driven to improve our world through scholarship, research, and teaching. We are forming powerful new partnerships with private industry and the communities we serve. And our alumni are leaders in their professions, pursuing excellence while uplifting others.
You, our greatest supporters, invest in our mission and are the engine of our success. From scholarships and breakthroughs in the arts and sciences to advances in sustainability and athletics championships, you power landmark achievements. You create opportunities for our students that transform their lives. You believe in the brilliance of our faculty and give them the resources to make the impossible possible. And you understand what an honor it is to be a part of this community, and are proud to call our beautiful campus — between the mountains and the ocean — home.
This year, we’ve had the joy of meeting with so many UC Santa Barbara alumni, friends, and supporters. Our conversations have reinforced what we see firsthand every day: philanthropy is essential to our university’s success and our momentum is growing. In the past year, our community gave nearly $165 million — the fourth-best year in our fundraising history. But this impressive number merely hints at the magnitude of your contributions to our mission. The stories in this report help complete the full picture. They represent our university at its finest, and you made them possible.
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for everything you do for UC Santa Barbara. This is your university, and we want you to stay connected for life. In the years ahead, we will build on these accomplishments and usher in a new era of excellence. We will make it happen by working together.
Sincerely,
Dennis & Eleni Assanis
What is possible?
Every gift begins with a sense of purpose
Philanthropy is a process of question and answer. Each person who gives to UC Santa Barbara seeks to express their values within our mission. In fiscal year 2026, our supporters answered this question with remarkable generosity.
This is the third consecutive year in which our community has contributed $150 million or more to UC Santa Barbara, establishing a new benchmark for campus. Supporters provided $164.9 million in gifts and pledges. Each gift reflects thoughtful timing and intent.
Philanthropy directly advanced UC Santa Barbara’s core mission, giving faculty the resources to pursue research, helping students thrive in the classroom and beyond, and connecting our scholars’ expertise with communities beyond campus.
Individual supporters comprised 69% of total giving, a testament to what can happen when many people invest in a shared vision. That total encompasses 28 leadership gifts of $1 million or more that will transform UC Santa Barbara.
The individuals who volunteer their leadership on the UC Santa Barbara Foundation Board of Trustees make an enormous impact on the university. On the next page, outgoing Board Chair Sue Wilcox ’70,’72,’75 shares her legacy commitment in support of graduate fellowships. This past year, legacy giving comprised 25% of individual giving to UC Santa Barbara. Such gifts help secure the university’s future. We are grateful for Sue’s time and foresight.
Behind every number is a choice to respond to a need or invest in an opportunity. At UC Santa Barbara, we have the privilege to see questions become action every day. Our supporters turn deeply held values into meaningful impact. To our friends, alumni, families, faculty, and staff: thank you!
Chris Pizzinat
Associate Vice Chancellor, Development
Executive Director, UC Santa Barbara Foundation
Why is now the right moment?
A legacy shaped by a lifetime at UC Santa Barbara
I met my late husband, Gary ’69,’72'72, on a beach in Isla Vista in 1969. We earned a combined six degrees from UC Santa Barbara. The campus had been such a major part of our lives that returning as volunteers was easy. Gary joined the Board of Trustees in 1997; I joined the Alumni Board in 2012 and became a trustee in 2021. We spent decades giving back to the campus together. It felt natural and fulfilling.
Gary and I wanted to create lasting opportunities for students at UC Santa Barbara. That purpose guided our estate planning. I’m honored to share that our estate will support graduate fellowships in biology and economics. Working closely with UC Santa Barbara scholars over the decades added meaning to our lives. I am grateful to have this opportunity to continue Gary’s legacy and help students long after we are gone.
My story is not unique. Every gift to UC Santa Barbara comes from a deeply personal place. I invite you to get involved with campus in any way that brings meaning to you.
Sue Wilcox ’70,’72,’75
UC Santa Barbara Foundation Board Chair (2024–26)
Financial highlights for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026
By Purpose
Department Support
$51.8 M
Research
$59.0 M
Student Support
$33.9 M
Campus Infrastructure
$19.6 M
Unrestricted
$0.6 M
By Source
Individuals
$113.5 M
Corporations
$15.3 M
Foundation
$34.9 M
Other
$1.2 M
Stories of Philanthropy
At The Crossroads
Three historic buildings overlooking the Pacific are about to find a new purpose. Trustee Linda La Kretz Duttenhaver ’77 is helping create a place where environmental researchers and community partners can work together, honoring her father’s legacy while putting an underused corner of campus to work.
Ready for the West Coast Conference
New opponents. New cities. New opportunities to connect. As UCSB Athletics prepares to join the West Coast Conference in July 2027, supporters are helping student-athletes meet the moment. Their investments reach from scholarships and training to the experiences that prepare students for life beyond competition.
Opening a Window
A professor’s suggestion sent Marc Grossman ’73 to England. It also helped set him on a path to a 29-year diplomatic career. Now, the former ambassador is helping Promise Scholars study abroad and discover the people, places, and possibilities that could change the course of their lives.
In Pursuit of the Past
Fragile court records in Florence held answers that Ph.D. candidate Joseph Figliulo-Rosswurm couldn’t find from home. The Frost Fellowship helped him get there. Established by Professor Emeritus Frank Frost in honor of his wife, Amanda, the award helps history students follow their questions wherever the sources lead.
Grit & Public Service
A Regents Scholarship and the GI Bill helped Sunne ’70 and John ’70 McPeak earn their degrees. Six decades after meeting in a UCSB classroom, they are extending that opportunity to others. Their endowed scholarship reflects lives devoted to public service and gratitude for those who invested in them.
Unlocking a Family Legacy
Seventy thousand microscope slides hold clues to the plant world. For years, digitizing Vernon Cheadle’s collection seemed out of reach. His son Bill is helping change that with a scanning microscope that will make decades of botanical research available to scientists and students around the world.
Ideas Take Center Stage
Geof and Laura Wyatt help bring acclaimed writers and thinkers to Santa Barbara through Arts & Lectures’ Word of Mouth series, where ideas move from the stage into conversations with students and experiences throughout the community.
A Path to Success
Hailey Villanueva ’27 can already picture her future English classroom. ÉXITO is helping her get there. With support from Michelle Cowell ’90 and the Slick Family Foundation, the program prepares future teachers and helps current educators bring ethnic studies into classrooms across subjects and grade levels.
Theoretical Physics, Practical Support
How can a future gift make a difference today? KITP’s Legacy Match Challenge unlocks $10,000 for each new member who documents a planned gift. The initiative is inspiring supporters to find new ways to sustain the institute and help early-career physicists take risks and pursue ideas.
A Continuous Path
Some Bentson Scholars arrive ready to study the ocean. Others learn to swim and dive for the first time. Laurie Bentson Kauth ’69 and Bill Kauth ’78 are extending that community into graduate research, creating a path for marine scientists to keep asking questions and mentoring one another.
“Your support goes beyond financial help; it’s encouragement. Donors who support student achievement acknowledge the hours of hard work that go into success. I’m grateful!”
Luke Trigler, Class of 2027
