$25 million gift to college from Matthew Voorhees

Kenyon College has announced a transformative $25 million donation from Matthew Voorhees, a 1995 graduate and financial technology entrepreneur, marking one of the largest gifts in the college’s history.

The unprecedented contribution is set to launch a new interdisciplinary initiative designed to connect classroom learning with hands-on, real-world experiences, reinforcing Kenyon’s reputation as a leader in liberal arts innovation.

Voorhees, co-founder of Anybill Financial and a former English major at Kenyon, cited his own journey from the humanities to technology entrepreneurship as evidence of the broad potential of a liberal arts education.

“As an English major who went on to found a financial services software company, I know well that a Kenyon education prepares you to lead and innovate in any field. I am excited that Kenyon is working to codify these connections for today’s students,” Voorhees said.

• The $25 million gift will spearhead a new initiative that integrates interdisciplinary study with practical experiences, including internships, research, and fieldwork. Students will be able to pursue “pathways” that cross traditional academic boundaries, focusing on themes such as resilient democracies, global economies, sustainability, and technological innovation.
• The donation serves as the lead gift for Kenyon’s “Third Century Founders” campaign, which aims to raise $100 million for the college’s endowment within two years. This campaign has already secured more than $40 million from Voorhees and other major donors.
• Part of the funds will support the construction of a new guest house for alumni in residence and the development of a student-alumni networking platform, “Just Ask,” to further strengthen the Kenyon community.

Kenyon President Julie Kornfeld described Voorhees as “a true steward of Kenyon’s future,” underscoring the gift’s role in advancing the college’s mission of preparing students for purposeful, consequential lives. The initiative builds on Kenyon’s longstanding strengths in cross-disciplinary learning and aims to provide the infrastructure and support needed for every student to integrate these experiences into their academic journey.

The gift arrives as Kenyon embarks on its third century, following the college’s bicentennial and its most successful fundraising campaign to date. It also reflects a broader trend of investment in central Ohio’s educational and economic landscape, with other recent major gifts supporting student internships and regional engagement.

Provost Jeff Bowman emphasized Kenyon’s commitment to “nimble and curious thinkers” who bring together knowledge from multiple fields and put ideas into practice-qualities that the new initiative is designed to foster.

Kenyon’s alumni network includes leaders in diverse fields such as diplomacy, journalism, activism, and literature. Voorhees’ gift is expected to inspire further philanthropy and innovation at the college, ensuring that future generations of Kenyon students are equipped to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

       “A Kenyon education is borderless. I’m excited to see the connections Kenyon students will make on campus, around the globe and right here in our backyard.” – President Julie Kornfeld

With this historic donation, Kenyon College is poised to deepen its impact on the liberal arts and prepare students to lead and innovate across disciplines and industries.