Story perspectives

Michael Jordan Donates $10 Million to UNC Social Work School

By Drooid · Oct 10, 2026, 11:51 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Michael Jordan donated $10 million to the University of North Carolina School of Social Work.
The gift is the school’s largest single donation ever.
Jordan made the donation in honor of his mother, Deloris P. Jordan.
The Global Social Development Innovations Center will be renamed the Deloris P. Jordan Global Social Development Innovations Center.
The Jordan Family Scholars program will award ten scholars $12,500 each for Master of Social Work studies.

History

Historical Context

In 1902, industrialist Andrew Carnegie pledged a $10 million endowment to establish the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. Carnegie’s gift, matched by state funds, enabled the school to award 200 scholarships within its first decade, shaping engineering education nationwide. Similarly, Michael Jordan’s $10 million contribution to the University of North Carolina’s School of Social Work honors his mother Deloris P. Jordan and creates ten $12,500 scholar awards. These landmark gifts demonstrate how high-profile philanthropy can expand academic programs, inspire future donors, and embed donor legacies within university curricula.

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Story summary

Michael Jordan donated $10 million to the University of North Carolina School of Social Work.
The gift is the school’s largest single donation ever.
Jordan made the donation in honor of his mother, Deloris P. Jordan.
The Global Social Development Innovations Center will be renamed the Deloris P. Jordan Global Social Development Innovations Center.
The Jordan Family Scholars program will award ten scholars $12,500 each for Master of Social Work studies.

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