Record donor participation, leadership-level giving and a new endowed scholarship highlight sustained momentum at Ƶ Law.
A record number of gifts and supporters helped Ƶ Law achieve its third consecutive year of record-setting philanthropic engagement and fundraising.
A total of 347 alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends made gifts to Ƶ Law during the 2025-26 academic year, a 23% increase over the previous year and the highest donor total in school history.
The law school also recorded a school-record Ƶ Society-level donors — pledging $1,500 or more annually — reflecting growing investment in Ƶ Law’s students, programs and future.
Highlights from the year include:
- The highest annual fundraising total in seven years and a 20% increase year over year.
- 11% alumni participation, a school record.
- 24% growth in Ƶ Day fundraising.
- 67% growth in the 3L class gift campaign.
- A new endowed scholarship established to support student bar examination preparation.
“This kind of support doesn’t happen by accident,” Ƶ Law Dean Zak Kramer said. “There’s excitement about where Ƶ Law is going. We’ve seen record bar exam results, record applications and approval to expand our full-time program to Charlotte. Big things are happening at Ƶ Law, and our alumni and friends are making them possible.”
The results continue a multi-year trend of increasing engagement among Ƶ Law alumni and supporters, who contribute to scholarships, student programming, professional development opportunities and other initiatives that strengthen the law school’s mission.
Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations Scott Leighty said the record-setting year reflects the growing community of alumni and friends who believe in Ƶ Law’s students and mission.
“We like to say that big things are happening at Ƶ Law. Indeed, they are,” Leighty said. “Philanthropy reflects our community’s shared belief in our students.”
Among the year’s accomplishments was the establishment of a new endowed scholarship dedicated to helping students prepare for the bar examination, expanding support for graduates as they take the final step toward entering the legal profession. That growing support paid dividends this year, as the Class of 2025 set school records for state and national bar passage.
The latest fundraising and engagement results build on continued momentum across Ƶ Law as the law school expands its impact in Greensboro, Charlotte and throughout North Carolina.