Top 20 Largest University Donations in US (2025)

DALLAS - July 19, 2025 - PRLog -- In 2025, higher education saw a wave of transformational giving. From AI and biotech to liberal arts and STEM, these record-setting donations reflect growing investments in research, student aid, and campus innovation. Here's a quick look at the top 20 individual or foundation gifts to US universities this year ranked by size and purpose.

1. University of Chicago – $100M

Donor: Konstantin Sokolov
Purpose: Endowed Booth School Executive MBA program
Date: April 2025

2. Fordham University – $100M

Donors: Maurice & Carolyn Cunniffe
Purpose: STEM education and new science center
Date: March 2025

3. University of South Carolina – $75M

Donors: Bonnie & Peter McCausland
Purpose: College of Arts & Sciences support
Date: April 2025

4. University of Delaware – $71.5M

Donors: Robert & Kathleen Siegfried
Purpose: New Siegfried Hall for business education
Date: March 2025

5. Hobart and William Smith Colleges – $70M

Donors: L. Thomas & Judy Melly
Purpose: Scholarships and Melly Institute for Business
Date: February 2025

6. Grove City College – $70M

Donor: Estate of David R. Rathburn
Purpose: Scholarships and campus upgrades
Date: March 2025

7. Ohio University – $70M

Donor: Osteopathic Heritage Foundation
Purpose: Scholarships, medical research
Date: Early 2025

8. University of Virginia – $50M

Donors: Anonymous (2)
Purpose: Manning Institute of Biotechnology
Date: June 2025

9. Medical University of South Carolina – $50M

Donor: Anonymous
Purpose: New med school building, physician training
Date: June 2025

10. Colgate University – $50M

Donor: Peter Kellner
Purpose: Financial aid and faculty hiring
Date: June 2025

11. Wayne State University – $50M

Donors: James & Patricia Anderson
Purpose: Engineering and tech education
Date: April 2025

12. Bowdoin College – $50M

Donor: Reed Hastings
Purpose: AI and Humanities Initiative
Date: March 2025

13. Fairfield University – $50M

Donor: John C. Meditz
Purpose: Endows Arts & Sciences College
Date: March 2025

14. Allegheny College – $35M

Donor: Philip L. St. Moritz (estate)
Purpose: Innovation center and tech facilities
Date: March 2025

15. Belmont University – $30M

Donors: Milton & Denice Johnson
Purpose: Endowed faculty chairs
Date: January 2025

16. Washington and Lee University – $30M

Donor: Anonymous
Purpose: Founders Hall construction
Date: May 2025

17. Northwestern University – $25M

Donor: Anonymous
Purpose: Adolescent Mental Health Institute
Date: May 2025

18. University of Utah – $25M

Donor: Marriott Foundation
Purpose: Hospitality Leadership Institute
Date: April 2025

19. Florida Gulf Coast University – $22M

Donor: Elaine Marieb Foundation
Purpose: Healthcare simulation & labs
Date: June 2025

20. Northwood University – $20M

Donors: Dan & Pamella DeVos Foundation
Purpose: Entrepreneurship, scholarships
Date: June 2025

These donations reflect a vibrant year of giving, with alumni, entrepreneurs, and foundations making bold investments in everything from biotech to mental health. As universities evolve to meet 21st-century challenges, 2025's top gifts are already shaping the future of learning.

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