Philanthropists donate .5 million to Founder’s College at Butler University

Philanthropists donate $2.5 million to Founder’s College at Butler University


INDIANAPOLIS — Philanthropists have made a transformative donation of $2.5 million to Founder’s College at Butler University, which was created to help underserved students earn an associate’s degree without any out-of-pocket expenses.

Alumna Marianne Glick and her husband, Mike Woods, donated the historic gift to the new two-year college that Butler will launch in August 2025. In honor of their goodwill, Butler will dedicate the space for Founder’s College on Butler’s campus as the Marianne Glick and Mike Woods Founder’s College Commons.


Marianne Glick with husband Mike Woods.

“I’m really thrilled Butler is doing this,” Glick said. “Providing affordable education at a high-quality school like Butler for those that have historically not been able to go is transformational. I want to make sure that all students—regardless of their race, gender identity, or income—have that opportunity.”

The Marianne Glick and Mike Woods Founder’s College Commons will be co-located with Butler University’s College of Education in a building at 42nd St. and Haughey Ave.

According to a press release from Butler University, their gift will fund renovations and operating support for Founder’s College.

“On behalf of Butler University, I am deeply grateful to Marianne Glick and Mike Woods for joining in our vision to make a Butler education more accessible and affordable through their generous support of Founder’s College,” Butler University President James Danko said.

“This gift is an inspiring demonstration of belief in the power of education and in the endless potential of our future Founder’s College students. We are proud to have the Glick and Woods names associated with this important effort to expand the pathway to degree attainment for Indiana students.”

Applications will open on Aug. 15, 2024, and the first class of students will enter in the fall of 2023.



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