Over the past few months, UCLA Bruin fans have dreamt of what the Bob Chesney effect may have on UCLA football. On Monday, UCLA Athletics showed Chesney’s effect on the athletic program’s finances.
UCLA reported an 81% growth in private philanthropic support over the past two years. UCLA Athletics received over $41 million in private philanthropic support over the 2025-2026 fiscal year, coming from 6,500 donors.
The financial year runs from July 1st-June 30th, meaning that Chesney wasn’t a part of UCLA for half of the fiscal year. Since being hired in Westwood, Chesney has rallied the donors, giving them a reason to believe in the future of Bruins football. The success of the UCLA women’s basketball team surely helped the total, with the Bruins winning their first-ever NCAA title.
Increased support from donors will only help UCLA in the NIL era. UCLA football has already been more active landing transfers and recruits and the Bruins’ men’s basketball team just landed teenager Nikola Kustruica on a mammoth NIL deal.
“The Bruin family has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to our student-athletes by helping us provide an elite experience both on and off the field,” Athletic Director Martin Jarmond said in the university’s release. “As college athletics continues to evolve, our supporters have made it clear that UCLA intends to compete and win at the highest level. We are incredibly grateful to the thousands of Bruins whose generosity is helping to shape the future of UCLA Athletics.”
While the football product was below the standard in 2025, and the men’s basketball team was underwhelming, the Bruins had great success on the softball and baseball fields in addition to the national title-winning women’s basketball team.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA Athletics reports an 81% increase in philanthropic support
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire | USA TODAY Network
