Want to improve your GPA in middle school and high school?
Many U.S. universities allocate such massive donations to expanding student financial aid. For instance, Johns Hopkins University uses the second $1 billion donation from alumnus Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic foundation to waive tuition for most medical school students.
Today, we spotlight seven donations received by U.S. universities and explore how these funds are driving institutional growth. This list includes some well-known Ivy League schools—see if any of your favorite schools made the cut.
1. Johns Hopkins University: $1.8 Billion
Donation Date: November 18, 2018
Donor: Michael Bloomberg
Alumnus Michael Bloomberg donated $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins University, primarily to enhance undergraduate financial aid and ensure that no student is denied admission due to financial reasons.
Bloomberg stated:
“Denying students entry to a college based on their ability to pay undermines equal opportunity. It perpetuates intergenerational poverty. And it strikes at the heart of the American dream: the idea that every person, from every community, has the chance to rise based on merit. Now, I want to be sure the school that gave me a chance will be able to permanently open that same door of opportunity for generations of talented students, regardless of their ability to pay. I am donating an additional $1.8 billion to Hopkins that will be used solely for financial aid to low and middle income students. That will make admissions at Hopkins forever need blind. It will allow the school to offer more generous scholarships. It will ease the burden of student debt for many graduates. And it will help open up the American dream to more young people.”
This donation set the record for the biggest single donation to a U.S. university.
2. Stanford University: $1.1 Billion
Donation Date: May 4, 2022
Donors: John and Ann Doerr
This donation, announced in May 2022, led to the creation of Stanford’s first new school in 70 years: the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
The school focuses on research in areas such as climate change, sustainable cities, food and water security, and human health and the environment. The school also provides scholarships and research assistantships for graduate students across various disciplines, including nursing, public health, education, engineering, business, arts and sciences, international studies, and the newly established School of Government and Policy.
4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech): $750 Million
Donation Date: September 26, 2019
Donors: Stewart and Lynda Resnick
Philanthropic couple Stewart and Lynda Resnick donated $750 million to Caltech to support multidisciplinary sustainability research in fields like physics, life sciences, and engineering. The institute plans to build a 75,000-square-foot sustainability research center named after the donors.
Online classes for middle and high school are led by top teachers
5. Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital: $700 Million
Donation Date: November 15, 2017
Donors: Florence and Herbert Irving
The Irvings donated $700 million to Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital to advance cancer research and clinical care. Over the past three decades, the couple has given more than $900 million to these institutions, supporting world-class medical research and treatment.
6. California Institute of Technology (Caltech): $600 Million
Donation Date: October 29, 2001
Donors: Gordon and Betty Moore
Intel co-founder Gordon Moore and his wife Betty donated $600 million to Caltech to support its education and science programs.
The donation was divided into $300 million spent over five years and another $300 million over ten years, aiming to solidify Caltech’s leadership in interdisciplinary research.
7. Harvard University: $500 Million
Donation Date: December 7, 2021
Donors: Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan donated $500 million to Harvard University, to be distributed over 15 years, for the establishment of an institute for artificial intelligence and neuroscience research, named after Zuckerberg’s mother.
This donation will create 10 new faculty positions, enhance computational infrastructure, and provide additional resources for students at all levels.
These monumental donations to U.S. Universities have left an indelible mark on the higher education landscape, fostering groundbreaking research, expanding access to financial aid, and enabling universities to address pressing global challenges. Whether funding advancements in cancer research, sustainability, or artificial intelligence, these gifts not only uplift the institutions but also empower students and researchers to drive innovation and equity for future generations.
