Baylor announces $100 million gift for Give Light campaign

WACO—Baylor University announced a $100 million gift from an anonymous donor for the school’s $1.1 billion Give Light campaign.

Excluding planned estate gifts, it is the largest donation in Baylor’s history.

A significant portion of the $100 million gift will create a matching fund to launch the Baylor Academic Challenge, along with other components of the Give Light campaign.

The Baylor Academic Challenge will maximize Baylor’s investments in research and academic programs by matching dollar-for-dollar significant additional gifts from other donors. The program seeks to increase the number of endowed faculty positions, helping Baylor generate additional funding to sustain and grow teaching and research in key areas.

“This is a truly momentous day in the 174-year history of Baylor University, as we celebrate Give Light and this extraordinary $100 million gift from members of the Baylor Family that illustrates their powerful belief in the promise of the University’s future and Baylor’s distinct place in higher education,” Baylor President Linda Livingstone said.

“We are deeply grateful to these members of the Baylor Family whose spirit of generosity and undying love for Baylor and its Christian mission will galvanize support from others who will come alongside and invest in Baylor, our strategic priorities under Illuminate (the university’s strategic plan) and our faculty and students in areas of greatest need and significant impact.”

Livingstone announced the gift at a Give Light campaign event in Houston.

“This is a great day for Baylor University,” said David Rosselli, vice president for advancement for Baylor. “We give thanks for the generosity and vision of this family, and for the transformational effect this generational gift will have at Baylor.

“It is especially heartening to see the way that this family is encouraging our Baylor alumni, parents and friends to come alongside their generous commitment through the academic matching program—and how their call to support the university will truly reap incredible blessings for Baylor and so many generations of Baylor students to come. This builds upon an incredible tradition of philanthropy here at Baylor, and I am grateful for the support it will create among our alumni, parents and friends.”

Baylor publicly launched the Give Light campaign on Nov. 1, 2018. To date, the campaign has raised $692 million, more than halfway to the $1.1 billion goal. Gifts from more than 53,000 donors have established endowed funds for 17 faculty chairs and professorships, 411 scholarships and 129 funds for growth priorities.