A Message From the Vice President
Welcome to the special edition of Accelerate, Rice’s 2024–2025 philanthropic impact report. This issue is a celebration of you — our generous alumni, parents and friends whose passion and commitment have propelled Rice through one of its most remarkable years in recent memory.
Thanks to your support, Rice raised an incredible $225 million last fiscal year. While that number itself is remarkable, what really stands out is how our generous donors have touched every corner of campus — advancing the bold vision of Momentous, Rice’s strategic plan launched just over a year ago. This report reflects the many ways you are shaping Rice’s future.
YOUR IMPACT
FY25 YEAR IN REVIEW
THANKS TO YOU, RICE IS SEIZING THE MOMENT
Your generosity is making a powerful difference. Because of your support, Rice is expanding access through more scholarships, accelerating discovery through new research opportunities, opening fresh avenues for study across disciplines and realizing the vision set forth in Momentous, Rice’s strategic plan.
Thank you for being part of this remarkable journey.
Total Fundraising FY25:
$225 Million
Represents total commitments from July 1, 2024 — June 30, 2025.
$10M
$6M
$4M
$53M
$49M
$43M
$33M
$27M
Total Donors FY25:
21,448 Donors
Our dedicated donors span the Rice community.
9,990 Alumni
4,264 First-Time Donors
1,318 Recent Alumni
802 Faculty and Staff
631 Corporations and Foundations
2,789 Non-Alumni Parents
51%
are proudly rooted in Texas
46%
are from other U.S. states
3%
represent our global community
A Reputation for Excellence and Value
#5
FOR BEST VALUE#8
IN UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING#17
IN THE U.S.25
GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE TOP 2556%
OF STUDENTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID6:1
STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO
GAME CHANGING GIFTS
Visionary gifts are shaping the future of Rice — establishing new colleges and schools, expanding academic programs and creating lasting opportunities for generations of students and scholars. These stories reflect how transformative giving drives institutional growth, strengthens our mission and leaves a legacy of impact across campus and beyond.
Chao College Joins Rice’s Most Beloved Tradition
In fall 2026, new students arriving at the corner of Entrance 4 and Main Street will be met with cheers, hand-painted signs and a warm chorus of "Welcome to Chao College." More than just move-in day, this moment will mark the start of a new chapter in Rice University’s story. With its own traditions, culture, and close-knit community of students, Chao College will soon take its place among Rice’s celebrated residential college system.
A Legacy Etched in Stone and Spirit
Russ Pitman’s connection to Rice University spans seven decades — first as a student, then as a staff member and ultimately as one of the university’s most generous benefactors. Russ’s impact is visible in every aspect of campus, enhancing opportunity and community across Rice.
One year of the Virani Undergraduate School of Business
In October 2024, Rice Business marked a historic milestone with the naming of its undergraduate programs: the Virani Undergraduate School of Business. This naming recognized a transformational gift from Houston business and community leaders Farid and Dr. Asha ’89 Virani.
SUSTAINING AFFORDABILITY
Together, we’re making a Rice education more accessible than ever. Thanks to the generosity of our philanthropic community, Rice continues to uphold its commitment to affordability through The Rice Investment and attract top student talent through both need-based and merit scholarship endowments.
A Philanthropic Touchdown
Chase Allen ’98 is giving back to the university that shaped his life by establishing the William Chase Allen ’98 Endowed Football Scholarship, a fund designed to ease financial burdens for Rice football players and help them thrive both on the field and in the classroom.
Backing Brilliance in Biosciences
Albert and Cheryl Cha, Rice parents and supporters, believe deeply in the power of education to change lives. Inspired by their children’s experiences and Rice’s mission, the Chas established the Cha Family Endowed Scholarship, a fund to support students majoring in natural sciences who face financial challenges — helping to ensure that talented students can access a Rice education regardless of their financial background.
In Their Own Words
From advancing global water treatment technologies to championing civic engagement, Rice students like Soobin Cho ’26 and Eli Risinger ’28 are turning personal passion into powerful impact. Their journeys reflect the transformative power of community, research and donor support — and the bold futures they’re building, one breakthrough at a time.
INVESTING IN STUDENT SUCCESS
Rice’s generous alumni, parents and friends are expanding what’s possible for today’s students. You’ve done more than help cover tuition — you’ve empowered students to excel academically, gain hands-on experience, explore career paths and grow as leaders.
From Bay Waters to Biosciences
Bob Arnett’s ’79 childhood in La Porte, Texas, taught him a deep appreciation for the natural world. Years later, Bob would pass along his passion for scientific exploration through the J. Robert Arnett II Excellence Fund in BioSciences, an endowed fund that supports undergraduate research, travel grants, field trips and classroom enhancements at the Wiess School of Natural Sciences.
A Gift to Ignite Opportunity
Charlos Ward ’98, ’06 speaks passionately about the profound impact her Rice education had on her career, worldview and commitment to giving back. “Education opened doors for me, and now I want to help open doors for others,” she says. Together, Charlos and her husband, Lee Riley, share a clear and unwavering purpose: to create opportunity, build community and ensure that every student has the support they need to thrive.
Leading With Heart
A student job as a telefund caller for The Rice Fund sparked an ongoing commitment to philanthropy and volunteerism for Anya Bolshakov ’15.
Internships that Inspire
Watching his twins, Dawson ’19, ’23 and Shannon ’19, graduate from Rice was a special moment for Houston businessman David Klein '71, '76. It was especially meaningful to see them pursue paths they truly loved — paths shaped in part by their internship experiences at Rice. Inspired by their journeys, the Klein family established the Klein Family Summer Opportunity Grant to help other students access transformative, career-shaping internships.
ADVANCING RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY
In FY25, your support powered global research collaborations, cutting-edge lab spaces and innovative inquiry that drives progress across disciplines. You made it possible for Rice faculty and students to push boundaries and deliver discoveries that matter.
The Mehta Rice Engineer Scholar Program Fuels Global Talent
For Rahul Mehta, education is about opening doors to possibility. Through his family foundation, he launched the Mehta Rice Engineer Scholar Program to attract top engineering talent from India and provides these students with access to world-class research opportunities at Rice.
Guided by Remarkable Women
Clint Johnson’s ’64 Rice education gave him a strong foundation for a 40-year career teaching economics at the University of Central Arkansas. That foundation, and the gratitude it inspired, has guided his philanthropy. Clint has established two endowed funds at Rice to support undergraduate research in the School of Social Sciences, both created in memory of women who shaped his life and education.
The Keck Foundation Lights the Way for Innovation
The Keck Foundation’s latest gift, a $1.2 million grant to advance super-resolution imaging and single-molecule tracking, could deliver both the clarity and speed researchers need. The result is imaging so precise and fast it may reveal cellular mechanisms as they happen.
Explore more stories of generosity and impact across campus. Subscribe to Accelerate, our biannual publication celebrating the spirit of giving at Rice.
Giving to Rice
Development & Alumni Relations
P.O. BOX 1892
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
Phone: 713-348-4991
Email: giving@rice.edu
