A Message from the President: Bancel Philanthropies Gift

April 24, 2023

Dear Members of the Villanova Community,

I am very pleased to announce that Villanova has received a $20 million gift from Bancel Philanthropies in support of our partnership with The Posse Foundation, one of the most prestigious college access, success and youth development programs in the U.S. It is the largest commitment to fund scholarships in the history of Villanova and will fully cover the undergraduate education of a total of 50 Posse Scholars over the next five years.

The Posse Foundation partners with top universities and colleges from across the country to empower academically exceptional student leaders from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, racial and religious backgrounds. Villanova announced its partnership with The Posse Foundation in 2019 and the first group of Villanova Posse Scholars will graduate in May 2024.

Exceptional academic environments require intellectually curious and driven students with a diversity of experience and thought. This remarkable gift from Bancel Philanthropies helps to advance academic excellence at Villanova and furthers a key area of our Strategic Plan— Rooted. Restless.—in making a Villanova education more accessible to deserving students.

On behalf of the entire University, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Bancel Philanthropies, the family philanthropy of Villanova parents Brenda and Stéphane Bancel. It is clear that the Bancels share our commitment to educating the next generation of exceptional student leaders who will ignite change in their communities and beyond.

Please join me in thanking the Bancels for their extraordinary generosity.

Sincerely,

Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA
President