University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Athletics Smashes Records With More than $2 Million Raised on #URHere Giving Day
04/21/2026 | General, Spider Athletic Fund
RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Athletics raised more than $2.07M to support Spider student-athletes during the University of Richmond's eighth annual #URHere Giving Day, the department announced Tuesday. The result represented an increase of approximately 62 percent from 2025, when Spider Athletics raised over $1.28M. 2026 is the first time the department has raised more than $2 million on Giving Day, coming just two years after the department first exceeded $1 million during Giving Day 2024.
"The generous support and loyalty of our Spider fans, friends, and alumni remains the number one reason Richmond Athletics is able to offer one of the nation's best student-athlete experiences," said Vice President and Director of Athletics John P. Hardt. "In a time of great change and challenge across intercollegiate athletics, the tremendous dedication shown by each and every Giving Day contributor ensures that current and future Spiders will continue to have the resources they need to achieve their academic and athletic potential at Richmond."
This year's Giving Day was held on April 8-9, with more than 2,500 donors contributing to Richmond Athletics during the 36-hour span.
Spider sports teams had the opportunity to earn an additional $50,000 in incentives provided by alumnus Rob Goergen, R'93. Fresh off its 2026 Atlantic 10 championship, the women's swimming & diving program captured $13,000 of the bonus funds for having the most donors among all women's teams (305 for $8,000) and registering the greatest increase in total donors from 2025 (58% for $5,000) among all teams. The women's soccer program recorded the greatest increase in total dollars raised from 2025, a 97% increase, to earn a $5,000 bonus.
Baseball earned the $8,000 bonus for most donors of any men's program, with 363. The men's and women's lacrosse programs each earned $8,000 for securing the most money among Richmond's men's and women's programs, with men's lacrosse raising $323,198 and women's lacrosse raising $151,068.
Baseball, field hockey, men's cross country, men's golf, men's tennis, soccer, swimming & diving, women's golf, women's lacrosse, and women's tennis split the final $8,000 in bonus money, with each team earning 100% participation from its roster during Giving Day.
Teams also raised funds by pursuing 37 different individual matching or challenge gifts provided by loyal Spiders supporters, helping the department to its best performance in the eight-year history of #URHere Giving Day.
"On Giving Day, Spider Nation showed exactly what makes this place so special. Our supporters went above and beyond and helped us reimagine what's possible for Spider Athletics. Because of their generosity, we raised the bar for Richmond Athletics, which will directly elevate the experience we are able to provide for our student-athletes," said Associate Athletics Director for Development Katherine Bulifant.
"The generous support and loyalty of our Spider fans, friends, and alumni remains the number one reason Richmond Athletics is able to offer one of the nation's best student-athlete experiences," said Vice President and Director of Athletics John P. Hardt. "In a time of great change and challenge across intercollegiate athletics, the tremendous dedication shown by each and every Giving Day contributor ensures that current and future Spiders will continue to have the resources they need to achieve their academic and athletic potential at Richmond."
This year's Giving Day was held on April 8-9, with more than 2,500 donors contributing to Richmond Athletics during the 36-hour span.
Spider sports teams had the opportunity to earn an additional $50,000 in incentives provided by alumnus Rob Goergen, R'93. Fresh off its 2026 Atlantic 10 championship, the women's swimming & diving program captured $13,000 of the bonus funds for having the most donors among all women's teams (305 for $8,000) and registering the greatest increase in total donors from 2025 (58% for $5,000) among all teams. The women's soccer program recorded the greatest increase in total dollars raised from 2025, a 97% increase, to earn a $5,000 bonus.
Baseball earned the $8,000 bonus for most donors of any men's program, with 363. The men's and women's lacrosse programs each earned $8,000 for securing the most money among Richmond's men's and women's programs, with men's lacrosse raising $323,198 and women's lacrosse raising $151,068.
Baseball, field hockey, men's cross country, men's golf, men's tennis, soccer, swimming & diving, women's golf, women's lacrosse, and women's tennis split the final $8,000 in bonus money, with each team earning 100% participation from its roster during Giving Day.
Teams also raised funds by pursuing 37 different individual matching or challenge gifts provided by loyal Spiders supporters, helping the department to its best performance in the eight-year history of #URHere Giving Day.
"On Giving Day, Spider Nation showed exactly what makes this place so special. Our supporters went above and beyond and helped us reimagine what's possible for Spider Athletics. Because of their generosity, we raised the bar for Richmond Athletics, which will directly elevate the experience we are able to provide for our student-athletes," said Associate Athletics Director for Development Katherine Bulifant.
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