$25 million gift to university for landmark social center from philanthropist Jean-Pierre L. Conte
Colgate University has announced a transformative $25 million gift from Jean-Pierre L. Conte, a 1985 alumnus, philanthropist, and private equity leader, marking one of the most significant single donations in the institution’s history.
The gift will fund the construction of a new social center on the university’s Lower Campus, a cornerstone of Colgate’s ambitious campus expansion and the ongoing Campaign for the Third Century.
The forthcoming Jean-Pierre L. Conte Social Center is envisioned as a vibrant hub for student life, hosting events, activities, and programs that will enrich the campus community.
This facility will anchor the Lower Campus initiative, a major component of Colgate’s strategic plan to enhance the residential and social experience for juniors and seniors, fostering both community and independence as students prepare for life after graduation.
President Brian W. Casey expressed deep gratitude for the gift, stating, “Colgate intends to offer the strongest residential liberal arts education in America, and the Lower Campus initiative is key to achieving that vision”. Conte’s contribution is part of a record-setting $105 million in recent alumni gifts supporting the university’s comprehensive development goals.
Jean-Pierre L. Conte is the chairman and managing partner of Genstar Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm with approximately $49 billion in assets under management, investing in sectors such as financial services, healthcare, industrial technology, and software.
Conte, a graduate of Colgate University and Harvard Business School, has led Genstar since the late 1990s and is recognized for his leadership in business, philanthropy, and policy advocacy.
Born in Brooklyn to immigrant parents—his father from France and his mother from Cuba—Conte’s upbringing was shaped by stories of resilience and the pursuit of the American Dream. His parents’ experiences escaping war and political turmoil inspired his lifelong commitment to educational equity, social mobility, and freedom.
Through the J-P Conte Family Foundation, founded in 2017, Conte supports initiatives focused on educational access for first-generation and underprivileged students, environmental conservation, and democratic values.
He established the Conte First Generation Fund to help students from immigrant and low-income backgrounds attend college, including at Colgate and Harvard.
Conte also serves on the boards of several academic and charitable organizations, including Colgate University, the UCSF Foundation, and the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
Conte’s recent philanthropic efforts include a $5 million gift to UCSF to advance research in Parkinson’s disease, a cause close to his family. His support for Colgate reflects his conviction in the transformative power of education to improve lives and communities.
Conte’s $25 million gift will reshape Colgate’s physical campus and reinforce the university’s mission to provide an inclusive and dynamic environment for learning and personal growth.
The new social center will stand as a testament to the enduring impact of alumni philanthropy and the values of opportunity and community that define both Conte’s legacy and Colgate’s future.