Record-Breaking Year of Fundraising Accelerates Progress of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis
The UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine announced $261.4 million in philanthropic giving during the 2025-26 fiscal year—the highest total ever for the school. A total of 4,841 individuals, corporations, and foundations made 8,024 philanthropic contributions. Their gifts support every aspect of the school’s mission, from fundamental research to scholarships to public service, and provide critical funding for the school to advance key facilities within its growing veterinary medical complex.
The total includes two landmark gifts: Joan and Sanford I. Weill contributed $120 million through the Weill Family Foundation and Kathy Chiao and Ken Hao contributed $75 million. Both gifts helped to kickstart the construction of a new small animal hospital, and the school was renamed the University of California, Davis Joan and Sanford I. Weill School of Veterinary Medicine in honor of the Weill’s generosity.
The Weills’ contribution ushered in a new era for the school, enabling it to add more students, strengthen its research enterprise, and expand its clinical facilities. The gift from Kathy Chiao and Ken Hao included support for a new small animal hospital, student scholarships, research and innovation in veterinary health, compassionate care and increased access to care. The new small animal hospital will be named in their honor.
“It is hard to put in a few words how much gratitude we have for the visionary philanthropists who came forward to support our work this year,” said Mark Stetter, DVM, DACZM, dean and professor of the Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. “Their investment accelerates the transformational impact that our excellence in veterinary medicine brings to the health of animals, people, and the environment.”
The 2024-2025 fiscal year was previously the school’s highest year in philanthropic contributions, with donors contributing $118.5 million. The momentum in fundraising is no accident, thanks to the school’s initiative to expand the Veterinary Medical Complex in a new phase of the campaign, known as “Limitless.” On September 18, 2025, the school held Limitless launch events to open a new All Species Imaging Center and announce the construction of a new veterinary education pavilion, primary care hospital, and other facilities.
Donors this year also directed support to the new Janice K. Hobbs UC Davis Veterinary Medical Center Southern California, including a $2 million matching gift. The new center—named after philanthropist Janice Hobbs—is set to open this fall, expanding UC Davis’ veterinary care for animals in Southern California communities and beyond.
“Every gift begins with a belief in what is possible,” said Lee Ann Jansen, assistant dean of Advancement. “Our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and volunteers inspire that belief every day through their dedication, compassion and pursuit of excellence. This record-breaking year reflects the strength of our community and the generosity of donors who share our vision. Together, we are creating a future without limits for veterinary medicine and a healthier future for animals, people and our planet.”
As the new fiscal year begins, the school and its philanthropic partners are building on this momentum and are focused on what comes next: educating future generations of veterinary leaders, expanding access to veterinary care, accelerating discoveries that improve the lives of animals and people, and completing the next phase of a world-class veterinary medical complex that will serve generations to come.
What our visionary philanthropic partners share with us is a vision to make California and the world healthier and to help all species,” said Dean Stetter. “We are so grateful for their investment in our school to carry that vision forward.”
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To read more about philanthropy’s impact on veterinary health at UC Davis, please navigate to the school’s Stories of Philanthropy page.
UC Davis announced that the university raised more than $676 million in contributions. Read UC Davis’ announcement.