Largest Single Donation to a U.S. College or University by a Jewish Donor
Record holder
Record value
US$1.8 billion
In November 2018, Johns Hopkins University announced a US$1.8 billion gift from alumnus Michael R. Bloomberg to permanently expand undergraduate financial aid. The university said the gift would make admissions permanently need-blind and replace undergraduate loans with scholarships beginning in 2019. At announcement, Johns Hopkins described it as the largest-ever single contribution to a U.S. college or university. Bloombergâs Jewish identity is independently documented, and no larger qualifying single gift by a Jewish donor was identified. Phil and Penny Knight later surpassed the all-donor U.S. higher-education record with a US$2 billion OHSU commitment in 2025, so this record remains specifically within the Jewish-donor scope.
- Country represented
- United States
- Achievement location
- Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Achievement date
- 18 November 2018