Nike cofounder makes largest known donation to public flagship university

Nike co-founder Phil Knight has made the largest known donation to a public flagship university in the United States, according to a New York Times report. Knight and his wife Penny have contributed $1 billion to the University of Oregon, which will be used to establish an engineering college on the campus. This latest pledge builds upon previous donations from the Knights, including a $1.1 billion commitment to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and Providence Heart Institute in Portland in 2024, and a $2 billion gift to OHSU's Knight Cancer Institute in 2025.

With a net worth of nearly $23 billion, Knight is the 88-year-old founder of the footwear giant Nike. The University of Oregon's president, Karl Scholz, praised the donation as an endorsement of higher education's ability to innovate and meet future workforce demands without placing financial burdens on state taxpayers. The Knights have also made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs, including a $100 million donation to build a basketball arena named after Phil Knight's late son, Matthew.

Their support has strengthened the relationship between Nike and the university, with Oregon athletes gaining access to exclusive Nike gear and NIL deal support. As federal funding for universities faces uncertainty due to proposed cuts by the Trump administration, Knight's generous donation provides a much-needed financial boost to the University of Oregon.