$25 million new donation to university announced by philanthropist Celia Scott Weatherhead- gift follows her earlier $160 million gift to higher education

Philanthropist and Weatherhead Foundation president Celia Scott Weatherhead has made a landmark $25 million gift on behalf of her family to Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), launching the Celia Scott Weatherhead Leadership Institute at the Weatherhead School of Management.

The university-wide institute, set to open in fall 2026, will expand CWRU’s reputation as a hub for leadership education—building on the foundation’s more than four decades of support for the institution.

For Celia Weatherhead, the new gift is both deeply personal and forward-looking. As president of the Weatherhead Foundation, she has guided its strategic philanthropy across education, healthcare, and the arts, while also continuing the legacy of her late husband, Albert J. Weatherhead III.

“Seeing the solutions-oriented, high-impact leaders that Case Western Reserve and the Weatherhead School have produced over the years made me realize there is a remarkable opportunity to not just continue this powerful work, but to amplify it exponentially,” Weatherhead said.

“This institute will develop the next generation of leaders who are driven to excel in their fields and make positive changes both in Cleveland and in our society.”

The Celia Scott Weatherhead Leadership Institute will provide students—from undergraduates to executives—with experiential and service-based opportunities to cultivate ethical, emotionally intelligent, and courageous decision-making.

Programs will span interdisciplinary graduate coursework, executive education, and a four-year undergraduate leadership track combining real-world projects, mentorship, and community engagement.

The initiative builds on the success of CWRU’s President’s Leadership Development Program, whose first cohort is set to graduate in 2026.

CWRU President Eric W. Kaler praised Weatherhead’s vision, calling her “a strategic, impactful leader” whose philanthropy has transformed countless lives.

“We are grateful for her continued commitment to the Weatherhead School and this university—including as an emerita trustee—so we can develop leaders who are ready to be a force for good in the world,” Kaler said.

The institute’s inaugural chair will be Scott Cowen, former dean of the Weatherhead School and past interim president of CWRU. Cowen, who also served as president of Tulane University—Weatherhead’s undergraduate alma mater—described the honor as “a full-circle moment” made possible through his long relationship with the Weatherhead family.

Although rooted in the Weatherhead School of Management, the institute’s reach will extend across disciplines, reinforcing Case Western Reserve’s identity as a “problem-solving university.”

For Celia Weatherhead, that vision reflects her lifelong dedication to education and community impact. With this gift, she ensures that Weatherhead’s name—and her own leadership philosophy—will shape generations of students poised to drive meaningful change.

The Weatherhead Foundation is led and ultimately controlled by Celia Weatherhead, who serves as President, alongside a small leadership team that includes Vice Presidents David F. Edwards, Carol Gluck, Scott Cowen, and Melani Cammett, as well as VP/Secretary/Treasurer Terri Lacy.

The foundation is structured as a family foundation, continuing the legacy of its founder and past president, Albert J. Weatherhead III.