FY2025 Marks Momentum in Private Giving at Southern Miss

Thu, 10/02/2025 - 02:13pm | By: Gracie Lewis

Southern Miss alumni and friends continue to demonstrate remarkable generosity, with private gifts through the USM Foundation and USM Athletic Foundation totaling $22 million for the 2025 fiscal year. Of that total, $12.5 million was contributed through the USM Foundation and $9.5 million was given to the USM Athletic Foundation.

“Private giving is one of many indicators of tangible momentum at Southern Miss. Alumni and friends of the University continue to believe in our mission and are investing in students and programs that prepare our students to be ready for life,” said University President Dr. Joseph S. Paul.

The 2025 fiscal year included significant support for key initiatives and capital projects:

• de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection $1 Million Match: Over $2 million was contributed by generous donors to build endowed support for the Curator of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection. This initiative was fueled by a matching gift challenge resulting in the Lena Y. de Grummond Curatorship Endowment which will provide perpetual funding for preserving, promoting and growing one of Southern Miss’s treasured literary resources.
• Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Hall: A new shared facility on the Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach that expands the life-changing services of the DuBard School for Language Disorders and The Children’s Center for Communication and Development is on the horizon. Through a combination of federal funding and private philanthropy totaling more than $6 million, Kelly Gene Cook Sr. Hall will enable children on the Gulf Coast to reach their full potential.
• Joe Paul Leadership Scholarship Program: Alumni and friends continue to bring the Joe Paul Leadership Scholarship Program closer to its goal of $30 million to fully endow the program, including Leadership Scholarship Alumna Jennifer Payne who is the most recent donor to create a named endowment. To date, $8.5 million has been raised in support of the transformative program.
• Payne Foundation: Building on a legacy of transformative giving, the Jimmy A. Payne Foundation made grants totaling over $500,000 through the USM Foundation to support 17 projects across all four academic colleges, the Graduate School, University Libraries, Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.
• Oseola McCarty Scholarship Endowment Reaches $1 Million Milestone: Thanks to a collaborative effort of many donors, the scholarship endowment that Oseola McCarty began with her gift in 1995 has commitments in place to ensure the corpus of the endowment will reach $1 million. This milestone, which ensures that 20 students will receive her scholarship annually, was reached just ahead of what would have been her 117th birthday on March 7, 2025.

“The generosity of Southern Miss alumni and friends continues to elevate our University and open doors for our students,” said Stace Mercier, executive director of the USM Foundation. “This year has reinforced what we already know to be true: when people come together for a cause, extraordinary things happen. It is a privilege to witness the lasting impact of private philanthropy on our campus community.”

Private giving to the USM Athletic Foundation also fueled scholarships, facilities and programs that enhance the student-athlete experience.

Athletic Director Jeremy McClain shared, “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our donors and the investment they continue to make in the lives of our student-athletes. This type of continued commitment inspires great optimism for the future of Southern Miss Athletics.”

Southern Miss Athletics advanced its mission thanks to the generosity of donors whose gifts strengthened facilities, scholarships and operational needs through direct giving and philanthropic support like the Eagle Club and Circle of Champions.

• Facilities: Significant contributions supported enhancements at Pete Taylor Park and other athletic venues, as well as facility upgrades that improve the experience for student-athletes and fans alike.
• Scholarships: Donor support helped fund baseball and athletic scholarships, ensuring that talented student-athletes have the resources needed to excel both on the field and in the classroom.
• Operational Support: Through Circle of Champions commitments and revenue share gifts, donors provided vital operational funding that sustains football, baseball and other athletic programs. In addition, in-kind contributions met important needs across the department.

As demonstrated, fiscal year 2025 marks a year of momentum for private giving at Southern Miss. For more information on supporting The University of Southern Mississippi click here or call 601-266-5210. To support Athletics directly, click here or call (601) 266-5299. 

About the USM Foundation

Founded in 1959, the USM Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the university community by overseeing fundraising efforts to raise private support for scholarships and other academic needs at Southern Miss. For more information on supporting The University of Southern Mississippi, click here or call 601.266.5210.

About the Southern Miss Athletics Foundation

The University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation supports the growth and success of Golden Eagle Athletics by funding key priorities that directly impact student-athletes, coaches and programs. Through endowments and annual giving, the Foundation provides scholarships, invests in facilities and equipment, and helps recruit and retain top coaches and staff. By advancing these efforts, the Foundation ensures that Southern Miss student-athletes have the resources they need to excel both in competition and in the classroom. For more information on supporting Southern Miss Athletics, click here or call 601.266.5299.