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Largest Private Gifts to Higher Education, FY 2019

Almanac 2019
August 18, 2019

Thirty-two private gifts valued at $50 million or more were announced by colleges in the United States and abroad from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019. The top gifts in the United States and in Canada will be devoted to financial aid and scholarships, and the top gift in Britain will support humanities research. Three major gifts included support for artificial intelligence, and two of those were devoted in part to the study of the ethical implications of that field.

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Thirty-two private gifts valued at $50 million or more were announced by colleges in the United States and abroad from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019. The top gifts in the United States and in Canada will be devoted to financial aid and scholarships, and the top gift in Britain will support humanities research. Three major gifts included support for artificial intelligence, and two of those were devoted in part to the study of the ethical implications of that field.

RankInstitutionDonorSource of wealthGift valuePurpose
1. Johns Hopkins U. Michael R. Bloomberg co-founder of the media company Bloomberg and former mayor of New York $1.8 billion financial aid for qualified low- and middle-income students, with the goal of making admissions permanently need-blind
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stephen A. Schwarzman co-founder and chief executive of the Blackstone Group, a global private-equity firm in New York $350 million establishment of the Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing, which will integrate computer science, artificial intelligence, and related fields across MIT’s five schools, and will create a deanship and 50 faculty positions
3. Harvard Medical School Blavatnik Family Foundation (Len Blavatnik) Len Blavatnik, who earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1989, is founder and chairman of Access Industries, a New York investment company with holdings in media, telecommunications, natural resources, chemicals, and real estate. $200 million (pledge) support for medical research to develop new therapies and tools to diagnose, prevent, and treat disease; provision of space for biotech start-ups in the new Blavatnik Harvard Life Lab Longwood; and naming of the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School
3. Mayo Clinic Jay Alix founder of AlixPartners, a consulting firm on global corporate turnarounds in New York $200 million naming gift for the newly named Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, in support of scholarships, curricular innovation, and a professorship
5. U. of Oxford (England) Stephen A. Schwarzman co-founder and chief executive of the Blackstone Group, a global private-equity firm in New York $188 million support for humanities research, including creation of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, which will house in a new building the university’s existing academic programs, along with a new institute of ethics in artificial intelligence
6. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History Edward P. Bass chairman of Fine Line, an investment and venture-capital management firm, in Fort Worth; an heir to an oil fortune; and a 1967 Yale alumnus $160 million support for renovations and expansion of the museum
7. McGill U. (Quebec) John and Marcy McCall MacBain John McCall MacBain, a 1980 McGill alumnus, was founder and chief executive at Trader Classified Media, which he sold in 2006. Marcy McCall MacBain is a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford. $151.1 million support for scholarships, mentorships, and immersive learning experiences for Canadian and international students who have demonstrated leadership skills and intend to pursue master’s or professional degrees
8. Harvard U., Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering Hansjörg Wyss former chief executive of the multinational medical-device manufacturer Synthes, and founder and former president of Synthes USA, which he sold for $20 billion to Johnson & Johnson in 2012 $131 million continued support for the Wyss institute’s work in developing and commercializing products to solve health-care and environmental problems
8. U. of Cambridge David and Claudia Harding Foundation (David and Claudia Harding) David Harding, a 1982 Cambridge alumnus, is founder and chief executive of the Winton Group, an investment-management and data-science firm. $131 million support for graduate and undergraduate scholarships
10. U. of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus Anschutz Foundation (Philip Anschutz) Philip Anschutz is owner of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and a third of the L.A. Lakers basketball team as well as holdings in entertainment, oil, railroads, real estate, and telecommunications. He is a co-founder of Major League Soccer. $120 million support for a new health-sciences building, research, faculty recruitment and retention, technology transfer, and other programs
10. U. of Virginia Quantitative Foundation (Jaffray and Merrill Woodriff) Jaffray Woodriff, a 1991 UVa graduate, is co-founder of Quantitative Investment Management, a hedge fund in Charlottesville, Va. Merrill Woodriff, a 1998 UVa graduate, is a co-director and co-owner of Bend Yoga Charlottesville. $120 million funds for creation of a new School of Data Science, including construction of a new building, and support for faculty members and administrators, doctoral and postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scholars
12. Baylor U. anonymous n/a $100 million capital-campaign contribution, with a portion a challenge pledge intended to create up to 17 new professorships, and another portion the lead gift for a new basketball pavilion
12. Harvard U. anonymous a graduate of Harvard in the 1990s and his wife $100 million support for Harvard’s Science Center, collaborations and a fellowship in mathematics, and resources for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
12. Harvard U. David and Stacey Goel David Goel, a 1993 Harvard graduate, co-founded and is managing general partner of Matrix Capital Management Company, in Massachusetts. $100 million support for redesign of Harvard’s arts campus, construction of a new center for the American Repertory Theater, and arts programs in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
12. U. of California at Los Angeles, Samueli School of Engineering Samueli Foundation (Henry and Susan Samueli) Henry Samueli, a three-time UCLA graduate, is a co-founder and chairman of the software company Broadcom. He was a UCLA professor of electrical engineering from 1985 to 1995. $100 million expansion of the engineering school
16. Western State Colorado U. Paul M. Rady chief executive and chairman of Antero Resources, an oil and natural-gas company in Denver, and Antero Midstream Partners, and a 1978 graduate of Western State $80 million support for establishment of the new Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering, including a new building
17. New York U. Langone Health anonymous n/a $75 million establishment of a new Center for Blood Cancers at Langone Health’s Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, and support for efforts to improve patient care and conduct research on multiple myeloma
17. U. of Toronto (Ontario) Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman Foundation (Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman) Gerald Schwartz is founder and chief executive of Onex Corporation, a private-equity firm in Canada. Heather Reisman is founder and chief executive of Indigo, a book and lifestyle retailer $75 million support for construction of an innovation complex that will bring together artificial-intelligence and biomedical researchers, an entrepreneurship network, and student- and faculty-led startups; and creation of the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, which will focus on studying the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies
19. U. of Virginia, Darden School of Business Frank M. Sands Sr. founder of Sands Capital Management, in Virginia, and a 1963 recipient of an M.B.A. from the Darden school $68 million (matching gift) $20-million endowment to strengthen teaching and extend the business school’s online reach through the new Sands Institute for Lifelong Learning; $21 million for 12 new professorships (matched by an additional $14 million from the university); $20 million for construction of a new inn and conference center; and $7 million to renovate C. Ray Smith Alumni Hall
20. Princeton U. Perelman Family Foundation (Ronald O. and Debra G. Perelman) Ronald Perelman is chairman and chief executive of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, in New York, and chairman of the cosmetics company Revlon. Debra Perelman, his daughter and a 1996 Princeton alumna, is chief executive of Revlon. $65 million establishment of Perelman College, the university’s seventh residential college, which will help advance the institution’s goal of expanding undergraduate enrollment by 10 percent
21. Amherst College anonymous n/a $50 million gift to a comprehensive campaign intended to support the college’s new interdisciplinary science center, hiring of more faculty members, and need-based scholarships
21. Arizona State U. J. Orin and Charlene Edson J. Orin Edson founded Bayliner Marine, a powerboat and yacht manufacturer he sold for $425 million in 1986. He also owned Westport Yards, a yacht maker he sold in 2014. $50 million $25 million each for the renamed Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, and for the Biodesign Institute; the money will support interdisciplinary research on dementia, and training for nurses and caregivers
21. California Polytechnic State U. at San Luis Obispo anonymous n/a $50 million (pledge) planned bequest for general support of the university’s Learn by Doing programs
21. Carleton College Wally and Barbara Weitz and family Wally Weitz is founder of Weitz Investments, in Omaha, a 1970 Carleton alumnus, and chairman of Carleton’s Board of Trustees $50 million (pledge) contribution to the college’s capital campaign, which aims to increase financial aid and experiential-learning opportunities like internships
21. Carnegie Mellon U. Tod and Cindy Johnson Tod Johnson is executive chairman of the NPD Group, a financial advisory-services company in New York, and vice chair of Carnegie Mellon’s Board of Trustees. The couple are 1960s alumni of the university. $50 million (pledge) endowment to support undergraduate scholarships and programs to help students persist and graduate
21. George Mason U. Allison and Dorothy Rouse Allison Rouse, who died in 2005 at age 86, was an associate justice of the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco from 1971 to 1988. Dorothy Rouse, who died in 2018 at age 93, was a lawyer with the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office. $50 million (bequest) endowment for 13 new professorships at the Antonin Scalia Law School
21. Northeastern U. Amin and Julie Khoury Amin Khoury, a member of Northeastern’s Board of Trustees, co-founded B/E Aerospace, and created several scientific-equipment companies. He and his wife, Julie, both earned M.B.A.s at Northeastern. $50 million endowment for the renamed Khoury College of Computer and Information Sciences
21. St. John’s College (Annapolis, Md., and Santa Fe, N.M.) Winiarski Family Foundation (Warren and Barbara Winiarski) Warren Winiarski founded Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, which was sold to a joint venture in 2007 for $185 million. He owns Arcadia Vineyards in the Napa Valley region of California. The couple are alumni of St. John’s. $50 million (pledge) matching challenge pledge for a capital campaign that is intended to allow the college to end “prestige pricing” and lower published tuition by about a third
21. Saint Louis U. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield Rex Sinquefield, a Saint Louis alumnus and member of the Board of Trustees, is a co-founder and retired executive vice president of the investment firm Dimensional Fund Advisors. Jeanne Sinquefield is a retired executive vice president of the firm. $50 million support for the establishment of the Saint Louis University Research Institute and the Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research, and for the university’s chess team
21. U. of California at San Diego Andrew J. Viterbi co-founder and retired vice chairman of Qualcomm and an engineering professor emeritus at the university $50 million naming gift for the Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and the Viterbi Family Vision Research Center; endowment of six new professorships
21. U. of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos P. Roy Vagelos, a 1950 Penn alumnus and former chairman of its Board of Trustees, is a retired chairman and chief executive of Merck & Company, and current chairman at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. $50 million support for a new science center to be named for the donors; it will house the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology, which will bring together researchers from Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences and its School of Engineering and Applied Science to solve energy-related issues, and the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research, a dual-degree program run jointly by the college and school
21. U. of Pennsylvania, Wharton School Marc J. and Carolyn Rowan Marc Rowan co-founded the private-equity firm Apollo Global Management. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Wharton in 1984 and an M.B.A. in 1985. $50 million support for the Penn Wharton Budget Model, an economic-policy analysis program, and for new professorships and fellowships

Note: The largest gifts to higher education that were announced by colleges and universities from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, are listed here. Gifts and biographical information were compiled from news articles, news releases, The Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of major gifts, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s database of charitable gifts. The database compiles privates gifts of $1 million or more from 2005 to the present. The value of gifts is based on information from institutions or donors at the time the gifts were promised or received. Foreign currencies were converted to U.S. dollars. Grants are excluded. In cases of stock, property, art, and other noncash donations, actual value may have increased or decreased since the gifts were pledged or received. Gifts of the same amount are listed alphabetically by institution. Information on gifts can be sent to gifts@philanthropy.com.

Source: Chronicle analysis of U.S. Department of Education data

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A version of this article appeared in the August 23, 2019, issue.
Read other items in this Endowments & Giving package.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
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