NBA stars Stephen Curry and Matt Berman are launching a major fundraising effort to support Davidson College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. The eight-figure fund, called the Curry-Berman Fund, will help the college compete in a transformed college sports world where athletes are compensated for their use of their name, image, and likeness.
Curry, a two-time NBA MVP, wants Davidson’s scholar-athletes to have the same top-notch experience he had during his time at the school. Berman, who played soccer for three years at Davidson, is giving up part of his ownership stake in Burnley FC to support the cause.
Davidson College President Doug Hicks said the gift will help sustain the college’s athletic program and provide a critical start for its efforts to compete in a new landscape. The college has hired Austin Buntz as general manager and assistant athletic director for basketball development, who will lead fundraising efforts.
The new fund will enable Davidson to build capacity for revenue sharing through additional fundraising, led by Buntz. Men’s basketball head coach Matt McKillop said the Atlantic 10 is going to keep pace with being one of the top basketball-centric conferences in the country, and Davidson wants to compete for championships every year.
Women’s basketball head coach Gayle Fulks called the Curry-Berman gift transformative, saying it will enable Davidson to compete for championships. The college announced in February that it would opt in to a landmark settlement of a long-running lawsuit against the NCAA, allowing colleges and universities to compensate athletes for endorsements and media appearances.
The combined gift from Curry and Berman is a significant boost to Davidson’s efforts to provide top-notch athletics programs while maintaining its commitment to academics, leadership, service, and integrity. The college aims to raise additional money through fundraising efforts led by Buntz.
Source: https://www.davidson.edu/news/2025/03/10/curry-berman-start-funding-davidson-college-basketball