Matching gift challenge gives donors chance to double their impact in supporting Falcon football team
3/12/2026 9:53:00 AM | Football
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado (March 11, 2026) - A $500,000 matching challenge from an anonymous donor will help accelerate and broaden support for the Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment for the Air Force Academy's football program.
The Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation and the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation partnered together to establish the DeBerry Endowment in fall 2025 to support the football team's most important needs and opportunities while honoring legendary former head coach Fisher DeBerry. Those needs include recruiting, coaching staff, facilities, technology and more.
Since the DeBerry Endowment's creation in August 2025, donors have given a remarkable $1.7 million to help coaches and the Department of Athletics plan for future needs. Now, with the matching fund in place, all individual gifts up to $25,000 will be matched dollar for dollar, offering more donors the ability to magnify their impact on the players and coaches of the football team.
"This gift, and the others it will motivate through the challenge will provide margin of excellence investments and propel our football program to new heights," said Nathan Pine, Director of Athletics. "The opportunity to support Air Force Football and honor Coach DeBerry's legacy is something our alumni and fans have eagerly rallied behind and I'm so grateful to the entire Air Force community."
AFAAC and the Association & Foundation have set an initial goal of $2.5 million for the fund.
As part of the initiative, the Department of Athletics will further honor DeBerry with a statue at Falcon Stadium, highlighting his career and his impact on his players and other cadets. During his 23 seasons as head coach, Deberry compiled a record of 169–109–1 and positiviely impacted thousands of players as they developed into leaders of character.
"We are thankful for the generous donor who understands the needs of the Air Force Football program and created a way for others to participate and double their impact," says Mark Hille '97, president and CEO of the Association & Foundation, which represents the joint mission of the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation. "The football program will benefit greatly from the consistent support made possible by gifts to the DeBerry Endowment. We're honored to partner with AFAAC in this important project."
Donors can take advantage of the matching challenge gift when they give online at usafa.org/FootballMatch or by calling 719-247-8739.
To purchase or renew Air Force football season tickets, please visit www.aftickets.com or call 719-472-1895.
For information on premium seating, including the East Club presented by L3Harris at the Kucera Legacy Center and the Blue & Silver Club, please click HERE or call the Falcon Athletic Fund at 719-333-4545 to purchase.
About the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation
The mission of the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation is to support the Air Force Athletic Department mission of producing leaders of character for our Nation. It achieves its mission by generating the necessary revenue to support Air Force Intercollegiate Athletics and by promoting the Air Force Academy to the Nation through athletics.
About the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
The U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation, which represents the joint mission of the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation, exists to serve USAFA graduates, support the Academy in its mission to develop leaders of character for the Air Force and Space Force, and preserve the heritage of the institution.
The Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation and the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation partnered together to establish the DeBerry Endowment in fall 2025 to support the football team's most important needs and opportunities while honoring legendary former head coach Fisher DeBerry. Those needs include recruiting, coaching staff, facilities, technology and more.
Since the DeBerry Endowment's creation in August 2025, donors have given a remarkable $1.7 million to help coaches and the Department of Athletics plan for future needs. Now, with the matching fund in place, all individual gifts up to $25,000 will be matched dollar for dollar, offering more donors the ability to magnify their impact on the players and coaches of the football team.
"This gift, and the others it will motivate through the challenge will provide margin of excellence investments and propel our football program to new heights," said Nathan Pine, Director of Athletics. "The opportunity to support Air Force Football and honor Coach DeBerry's legacy is something our alumni and fans have eagerly rallied behind and I'm so grateful to the entire Air Force community."
AFAAC and the Association & Foundation have set an initial goal of $2.5 million for the fund.
As part of the initiative, the Department of Athletics will further honor DeBerry with a statue at Falcon Stadium, highlighting his career and his impact on his players and other cadets. During his 23 seasons as head coach, Deberry compiled a record of 169–109–1 and positiviely impacted thousands of players as they developed into leaders of character.
"We are thankful for the generous donor who understands the needs of the Air Force Football program and created a way for others to participate and double their impact," says Mark Hille '97, president and CEO of the Association & Foundation, which represents the joint mission of the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation. "The football program will benefit greatly from the consistent support made possible by gifts to the DeBerry Endowment. We're honored to partner with AFAAC in this important project."
Donors can take advantage of the matching challenge gift when they give online at usafa.org/FootballMatch or by calling 719-247-8739.
To purchase or renew Air Force football season tickets, please visit www.aftickets.com or call 719-472-1895.
For information on premium seating, including the East Club presented by L3Harris at the Kucera Legacy Center and the Blue & Silver Club, please click HERE or call the Falcon Athletic Fund at 719-333-4545 to purchase.
About the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation
The mission of the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation is to support the Air Force Athletic Department mission of producing leaders of character for our Nation. It achieves its mission by generating the necessary revenue to support Air Force Intercollegiate Athletics and by promoting the Air Force Academy to the Nation through athletics.
About the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
The U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation, which represents the joint mission of the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation, exists to serve USAFA graduates, support the Academy in its mission to develop leaders of character for the Air Force and Space Force, and preserve the heritage of the institution.
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