Philanthropy, especially that which we see on a large scale, is often seen as one such lightning strike wherein a wealthy philanthropist throws an incredible sum of money into solving a problem somewhere far away, all of a sudden. Of course, this is noted, the sum impressed upon us, and life goes back to normal. However, legacy-changing philanthropy does not always work this way. What occurs when a philanthropist focuses on one area for ten years?
In August 2025, OHSU surprised the world by setting a new benchmark in American philanthropy. Phil and Penny Knight donated $2 billion to the Knight Cancer Institute. This was the biggest donation ever given to an American university or academic medical centre. The figures make the story impressive, but the essence of the story is all about the strategy behind it.
