Key Takeaways
- • Northwestern University announced the first-ever NU Cross Country & Track Endowed Fund, funded by an anonymous donor, to provide a sustainable revenue source for cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track.
- • The endowment will pay out roughly 5% annually to support student-athletes across the program's three championship seasons.
- • The fund can be deployed in full for future capital projects, such as building an outdoor track on campus.
- • The program posted its highest NCAA Championships finish (18th) of the modern era and its highest national ranking (8th) in program history during 2025-26.
- • Women's Indoor Track and Women's Outdoor Track returned to Northwestern in 2026 as the school's 20th and 21st varsity sports.
Summary
Northwestern University has announced the first-ever NU Cross Country & Track Endowed Fund, made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor. According to the university's announcement, the fund will provide a sustainable source of revenue for cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, with the goal of giving student-athletes a complete academic and athletic experience at Northwestern.
The endowment is designed to pay out roughly 5% annually to support the program's student-athletes as they now compete in three championship seasons. The university noted that the full endowment could also be used for future capital projects, such as building an outdoor track on campus. Gifts to the fund are earmarked for nutrition, academic, psychology and sports performance resources.
The announcement comes as the program reports a strong 2025-26 season. The cross country team recorded its highest NCAA Championships finish (18th) of the modern era, its highest national ranking (8th) in program history, and its highest Big Ten Championship team finish (3rd) in nearly 40 years. The indoor team earned four podium finishes at its first Big Ten Indoor Championships appearance since 1988, and the outdoor 10,000m event squad reached the No. 1 national ranking from USTFCCCA. Individual honors included five USTFCCCA Midwest All-Region honorees, six USTFCCCA All-Academic honorees, 13 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars, and 29 Academic All-Big Ten honorees across cross country and track & field.
The women's indoor and outdoor track programs returned to Northwestern in 2026, becoming the school's 20th and 21st varsity sports. The head coach framed the endowment around the program's butterfly symbol, describing it as a reminder to "fly together" as one team.
The endowment is designed to pay out roughly 5% annually to support the program's student-athletes as they now compete in three championship seasons. The university noted that the full endowment could also be used for future capital projects, such as building an outdoor track on campus. Gifts to the fund are earmarked for nutrition, academic, psychology and sports performance resources.
The announcement comes as the program reports a strong 2025-26 season. The cross country team recorded its highest NCAA Championships finish (18th) of the modern era, its highest national ranking (8th) in program history, and its highest Big Ten Championship team finish (3rd) in nearly 40 years. The indoor team earned four podium finishes at its first Big Ten Indoor Championships appearance since 1988, and the outdoor 10,000m event squad reached the No. 1 national ranking from USTFCCCA. Individual honors included five USTFCCCA Midwest All-Region honorees, six USTFCCCA All-Academic honorees, 13 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars, and 29 Academic All-Big Ten honorees across cross country and track & field.
The women's indoor and outdoor track programs returned to Northwestern in 2026, becoming the school's 20th and 21st varsity sports. The head coach framed the endowment around the program's butterfly symbol, describing it as a reminder to "fly together" as one team.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.