$10 million donation to university from Jordan Schnitzer followed by his similarly substantial new gift to art museum

Portland real estate developer Jordan Schnitzer donated $10 million to Portland State University. The gift will sustain the free on-campus art museum that bears his name and help build a new home for the university’s art and design school.

Construction of the new school building on the southern edge of the South Park Blocks is expected to begin this year, with a grand opening in 2026. State bonds approved by the Oregon Legislature will help pay for the project.

“My parents always taught me to (whom) much is given, much is expected,” said Schnitzer.

The $10 million gift answers Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s call to revitalize downtown Portland. Last year, Kotek created a task force of business, community, and education leaders.

“It’s not just about the government solving the challenges ahead of us because it is all of us. All of us are coming together to solve the problems facing us,” said Kotek.

Local leaders, including Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, hope the PSU campus will be considered a downtown arts destination.

“You can no longer count on people having to be located in cities. Instead, you have to want people to be located in cities,” explained Wheeler. “I’m a strong proponent of arts, culture, education, and commerce being things that make people want to be in a thriving city.”

One million dollars of the gift will help PSU improve its urban campus through better lighting and outdoor art.

Following his $10 million donation to the university, Schnitzer also endowed a curatorial position in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints this month.

The position, the Jordan Schnitzer Curator, highlights his dedication to supporting contemporary art and fostering public access to cultural resources.