Phil and Penny Knight Donate $1 Billion to Expand University of Oregon Engineering

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-09-23

A historic donation from the Nike co-founder will fund higher education initiatives aimed at producing thousands of needed engineers in Oregon.

Phil and Penny Knight have pledged a $1 billion gift to the University of Oregon, establishing a major financial boost for the institution's science and engineering programs. The historic contribution is designed to significantly expand the university's capacity to train highly skilled engineers.

The investment comes as Oregon faces a growing shortage of technical talent, with state economic projections indicating a need for approximately 2,500 new engineers annually. The new funding will support academic infrastructure, research facilities, and faculty recruitment to address the workforce gap.

Under the expansion plan, the University of Oregon will scale its academic offerings in applied sciences, bioengineering, and related technical disciplines. The funding aims to establish state-of-the-art laboratory spaces and provide specialized resources for students entering high-tech fields.

University administrators indicated that the multi-year gift will help create a continuous pipeline of qualified graduates to support regional technology sectors and advanced manufacturing industries. Program developments funded by the gift are expected to begin phased implementation over the coming academic terms.

The donation marks one of the largest single financial commitments ever made to a public higher education institution in the United States. Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, along with his wife Penny, has previously provided substantial philanthropic support to educational facilities across the state.