Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny have pledged $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute, setting a new record for the largest single donation to a U.S. academic institution.
At a Glance
- Phil and Penny Knight’s $2 billion gift will be distributed over ten years to OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute
- The donation establishes a self-governed Knight Cancer Group with its own board and leadership
- Funds will support cancer research, patient care, and a major hospital expansion opening mid-2026
- Dr. Brian Druker named inaugural president of the Knight Cancer Group
- The gift is expected to generate significant economic and job growth in Oregon
Historic Commitment
On August 14, 2025, Phil and Penny Knight announced a $2 billion donation to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), surpassing the previous U.S. record set by Michael Bloomberg’s $1.8 billion gift to Johns Hopkins University. The funds will be allocated over a decade, with a focus on accelerating cancer research and expanding patient services.
The gift will fund a major expansion of OHSU’s cancer facilities, including 128 new patient beds, scheduled to open in mid-2026. The move significantly increases capacity for advanced cancer treatments and clinical trials, while also enhancing the institution’s ability to recruit leading oncology researchers.
Watch now: Phil Knight Donates $2 Billion to Fight Cancer · YouTube
New Governance Model
The donation will establish the Knight Cancer Group, a self-governing entity within OHSU that will oversee all cancer-related services. Dr. Brian Druker, a renowned oncologist and leader in targeted cancer therapy development, will serve as its first president.
The governance model includes an independent board, granting the group greater operational autonomy and reducing reliance on broader university administrative structures. Supporters say this structure will allow for faster decision-making, streamlined research approval, and greater flexibility in managing clinical operations.
Proven Philanthropic Impact
This is not the first transformative gift from the Knights to OHSU. In 2013, they pledged $500 million contingent on the university raising a matching amount. The challenge was met, resulting in significant advancements in cancer research. That campaign helped fund work that contributed to the development of Gleevec, a targeted therapy credited with extending the lives of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.
Druker, who played a central role in Gleevec’s development in partnership with Novartis, has long emphasized the importance of philanthropic support in accelerating medical breakthroughs. He has stated that sustained funding allows researchers to take on high-risk, high-reward projects that may not receive traditional grant approval.
Economic and Regional Benefits
Beyond healthcare outcomes, the $2 billion pledge is expected to stimulate Oregon’s economy. The planned hospital expansion and associated research initiatives are projected to create new jobs in both healthcare and construction, as well as draw additional grant and private funding into the state.
Governor Tina Kotek praised the donation’s potential to elevate Oregon as a hub for medical innovation, noting that the increased capacity and research activity will benefit patients far beyond the state’s borders. With its size, scope, and structural innovations, the Knights’ gift is poised to become a case study in how large-scale private philanthropy can reshape healthcare delivery and research.
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