$10 million gift to support undergraduate student scholarships from Jacqueline Badger Mars
Trustee Emeritus Jacqueline Badger Mars has made a transformative $10 million gift to Bryn Mawr College to support undergraduate scholarships, ensuring that financial circumstances never stand in the way of intellectual promise.
“This extraordinary gift reflects the deep belief that curiosity and a passion for learning—not economic background—should define access to a Bryn Mawr education,” said President Wendy Cadge. “We are profoundly grateful to Jacquie for her generosity and for honoring President Cassidy’s legacy of expanding opportunity for future Mawrters.”
The gift honors former President Kim Cassidy, whose leadership made affordability a hallmark of her tenure, increasing the College’s financial aid budget by more than 50 percent. That commitment to access continues under President Cadge, who advanced those efforts through the Beacon Initiative, announced in fall 2025, providing free tuition for families with household incomes below $175,000.
Mars’s lifelong support for Bryn Mawr is both personal and profound. A proud alumna, she has demonstrated her devotion through decades of active service—as trustee, alumna leader, and benefactor—always valuing impact over recognition.
Beyond Bryn Mawr, Jacqueline Badger Mars is a business leader, philanthropist, and steward of the land. She owns and operates Stonehall Farm, a working farm in Virginia dedicated to organic agriculture, horse training, and breeding. Before devoting herself to philanthropy, she enjoyed a distinguished career at Mars, Incorporated, the family company founded by her grandfather, where she served as president of the Food Product Group and as a board member.
Her philanthropic passions encompass the arts, conservation, and education. She serves on the boards of the National Archives Foundation, the Washington National Opera, and the National Sporting Library & Museum, among others. In recognition of her lifelong advocacy for education and American heritage, she received the inaugural Heritage Award from the National Archives Foundation.
“As Bryn Mawr continues to expand its commitment to access through initiatives like Beacon, Mrs. Mars’s gift provides powerful momentum,” said Bob Miller, vice president for alumnae/i relations and development. “By strengthening need-based support for future students, the fund ensures that the college’s promise of opportunity remains as strong for the next generation of Mawrters as it has been for those who came before.”
Reflecting on her gift, Mars shared, “Bryn Mawr has long been a place where talented students thrive. I hope this gift helps ensure that financial need is never a barrier to that opportunity.”
Widely admired for her quiet leadership and civic dedication, Jacqueline Mars continues to embody the values she champions—excellence, stewardship, and access to opportunity for future generations.