O'Donnell Foundation huge donation to Southern Methodist University

Dallas - In a significant update highlighting the growing importance of data science and engineering in today's educational landscape, Southern Methodist University (SMU) President R. Gerald Turner announced a generous $30 million gift from the Dallas-based O'Donnell Foundation, Dallas Metro News reported.

This substantial funding is designated for establishing 10 academic chairs focused on the evolving fields of data science and engineering, and to bolster research related to these areas.

The announcement was made during a faculty meeting and detailed that the funding will be evenly split between two key departments at the university: the newly-named O'Donnell Data Science and Research Computing Institute, and SMU's existing program aimed at digital innovation in engineering and computer science.

Founded in 1957 by the late Peter O'Donnell Jr. and his late wife, Edith, the O'Donnell Foundation has had a lasting impact on Texas philanthropy. With a legacy of fostering breakthroughs in diverse fields such as math, science, and the arts, the foundation has long been a catalyst for transformative change.

According to Peter O'Donnell Jr.'s memoirs, the foundation has quietly donated an astounding $780 million over the years, with most of its gifts given anonymously.

“Peter and Edith O’Donnell left a remarkable legacy of supporting education in North Texas and beyond,” Turner said in a statement. “This gift from their foundation is a milestone for us because it provides critical support for our decadelong strategy to strengthen SMU as a center for applying the latest technology to enhance innovation and learning.”

Continuing its history of generous support for technology education and research, the O'Donnell Foundation granted a notable $2 million endowment last year. This funding specifically targets the director position at Southern Methodist University's (SMU) Data Science Institute, reinforcing the Foundation's commitment to advancing emerging academic fields.

Peter O'Donnell Jr., who passed away in 2021 at the age of 97, was a significant force in shaping the family's philanthropic impact. Along with his late wife, Edith, who died in 2020 at 94, the couple made substantial contributions well beyond SMU, supporting various prestigious institutions across Texas. Among their many contributions, they established 32 One Million Dollar Chairs in science and engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and granted more than $300 million to UT Southwestern Medical Center.

SMU, a private university with approximately 12,000 students, launched an ambitious $1.5 billion fundraising campaign in 2021. Designed to support future research, increase scholarship funds, and improve infrastructure, the campaign has attracted significant philanthropic support. Notable recent gifts to SMU include:

• $100 million from the Moody Foundation in 2019. • $50 million from David and Carolyn Miller in 2019. • $50 million from the Garry Weber Foundation in 2022. • $30 million from Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones in 2023. • $20 million from Rich and Mary Templeton in 2023. • $15 million from Marlyne Sexton in 2022. • $15 million from Bill and Liz Martin Armstrong in 2022.

According to data from The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the recent gift from the O'Donnell Foundation is among the most substantial charitable donations in Texas this year, emphasizing its enduring role in shaping educational and medical research in the region.

Credit: Dallas Metro News, Dallas News, Southern Methodist University