OVERVIEW
A Successful Venture
In January 2023, President Jim Ryan announced the University’s final investment in the Bicentennial Professors Fund, a matching gift opportunity that increased the impact of gifts to support endowed professorships. Established by the Board of Visitors in December 2017, the effort raised more than $500 million in gifts for prestigious faculty chairs.
In addition to support received and matched for endowed professorships, gifts of $5 million were matched dollar-for-dollar for University Professorships, a longstanding program that awards the title of "University Professor" to exceptionally distinguished faculty, especially those whose specialties crossed multiple disciplines.
All matching funds have been utilized for gifts to create Bicentennial Professorships. Thanks to the generosity of those who took advantage of the historic matching program, the University has strengthened its ability to recruit and retain outstanding faculty who are regarded not only for their intellectual leadership but for their ability to inspire future citizen leaders.