The Quiet Force Behind the Loudest, Proudest University

Luckily for Aggies, Texas A&M University is rarely short on bold, generous dreamers. Following the Foundation’s largest fundraising year yet — with $412 million given to support donor-directed passions on campus during fiscal year 2025 — it’s clear as ever that philanthropy is driving a brighter future for Aggieland by fueling progress and shaping the very character of our university.

Take some of the features in this issue, for example. Because of philanthropy, Texas A&M can give life to big-impact initiatives like the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, which attracts the world’s leading minds to Aggieland and amplifies the university’s global influence; the Aplin Center, a new facility that will reinvent hospitality, retail and marketing education; and Courtney Cares, an equine-assisted therapy program that is bringing hope and healing thanks to donor support.

Witnessing efforts like these is what makes philanthropy at Texas A&M so exciting. It’s the art of believing in what does not yet exist and the chance to be part of its fruition. It’s the assurance that there’s always new, trailblazing ideas on campus — take the space engineering program for instance — where donors can be part of something truly groundbreaking. It’s really the force that turns a good institution into a great one.

It’s through this philanthropic partnership that we unlock Aggieland’s full potential. Donor generosity provides the margin of excellence and the vital space where imagination can flourish and where big ideas that solve problems at scale and inspire the next generation find their footing. At the Foundation, we believe Texas A&M is the place where such bold ideas take root, but your generosity is what gives them the strength to grow.

We know that the great universities of the world don’t rise on reputation alone; they ascend on the power of partnerships with those who believe in them. Your generosity, your trust and your continued engagement are the quiet force that allows Texas A&M to imagine and realize more for its future. For that we are eternally grateful.

Gig ’em,

Chastity Carrigan ’16
Senior Vice President for Development
Texas A&M Foundation