Annual Report
2024-2025
Letter from the Chancellor
UC Santa Cruz has a proud legacy of innovation, academic excellence, and social impact. Since our founding in 1965, we’ve pushed boundaries through bold, interdisciplinary research and inspired generations of students through high-quality teaching and hands-on learning committed to making a difference in the world. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we honor that history while looking ahead to an even more impactful future.
Leading the change
UC Santa Cruz is making remarkable progress in implementing Leading the Change: The UC Santa Cruz Strategic Plan, which has guided the campus since it was finalized in summer 2023.
Advancing student and alumni success
UC Santa Cruz is expanding opportunity and inclusion through programs that support first-generation, transfer, and underrepresented students. From full-ride scholarships and hands-on research to mental health care and cultural events, the campus is building a more equitable, connected, and student-centered future.
Research impact
UC Santa Cruz research is driving innovation in climate resilience, social justice, and science. Highlights include AI’s role in extreme weather forecasting, ethical lithium extraction, Indigenous language revival, coral reef restoration, and breakthroughs in biodiesel and rare disease diagnostics.
UC Santa Cruz Foundation
Letter from foundation chair
The UC Santa Cruz Foundation celebrates 50 years of impact, highlighting support for research, teaching, and student success. This year focused on the Humanities Division and THI’s public programs and career-focused initiatives. Donor support remains vital.
Philanthropic Support
UC Santa Cruz announced the 2,400-acre Strathearn Ranch Natural Reserve for research and education, and introduced “degree-defining experiences” in the Science Division to expand hands-on learning through fieldwork, observatory visits, and research programs.
By the numbers
$66.8M
Philanthropy, FY25
Endowment (UCSC Foundation and Regents)
$359,626,018
FY25
$304,927,626
FY24
$282,128,507
FY23
Student Success Initiative
Raised since 2021
Giving Day
Fundraising totals by division, FY25
$3.9 million | Arts
$5.5 million | Baskin Engineering
$2.1 million | Humanities
$27.7 million | Physical and Biological Sciences
$5.8 million | Social Sciences
$153,000 | Library
$21.7 million | Other Programs*
* Other university programs: Graduate Division, Student Success, Undergraduate Education, and more.
Letter from President Foundation/VC UA
Philanthropy plays a critical role in expanding and enhancing UC Santa Cruz’s contributions to individuals, communities, and our greater world, and I am deeply thankful for our generous donors who provided $66.8 million in support this past year.
From conserving sensitive habitats that can be used as outdoor classrooms to delivering experiences that will have profound impacts on a student’s experience, our supporters are helping students in their education, opening up opportunities for internships and fellowships, and creating connections that guide them along a career pathway. Philanthropy is also enabling our researchers to conduct cutting-edge research that saves lives, leads to breakthrough technologies, and propels California’s economy.
UC Santa Cruz is an incredible place of innovation and transformation that is advanced by supporters like you who are proud of our accomplishments, inspired by our aspirations, and driven to create real, lasting change.
Sincerely,
Mark Delos Reyes Davis
President, UC Santa Cruz Foundation, and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement