KU Athletics announces program record donation of $300 million from David Booth
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas Athletics received a record $300M gift from donor David Booth in 2025.
- $75M funds are for Gateway District phase two; remaining funds support long-term income.
- Phase one stadium upgrades debut August 2025; phase two begins after season.
Kansas Athletics announced what it is calling an unprecedented gift of $300 million from longtime donor David Booth on Wednesday morning.
According to the news release, the donation is the largest in Kansas Athletics and University of Kansas history and among the largest single gifts in the history of college athletics.
The money will, in part, go toward phase two of the ongoing David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium renovation project and Gateway District. The Jayhawks recently practiced in the stadium, following phase one renovations, for the first time.
The release characterizes Booth’s donation as a “$75 million challenge to other donors that launches the next phase of progress” on the greater stadium project, while noting the remainder of the donation will “generate a stream of income that will strengthen Kansas Athletics across generations.”
“David’s unprecedented generosity is transformative now and for our future,” said Kansas athletic director Travis Goff. “It accelerates phase (two) of the Gateway District and the new ‘Booth’ and inspires others to step up and join in completing this vision. We’re profoundly grateful for David’s leadership and extraordinary impact on generations of student-athletes and fans. There is no more generous and impactful Jayhawk, and we are so fortunate to call him a friend and mentor.”
KU chancellor Douglas Girod was also quoted in the news release.
“David has always believed in the power of athletics to unite communities, generate Jayhawk spirit and create lasting bonds between alumni, students and fans,” said Girod. “His generosity is inspiring, and his loyalty to KU runs deep. We are beyond grateful for his transformative gift.”
Phase two of the Gateway Project is set to begin after the conclusion of the 2025 college football season. On Tuesday night, Lawrence city commissioners approved various financial incentives the Jayhawks needed for phase two of the project.
According to Goff, the plan is to still play football in some form, albeit at a reduced capacity, during phase two of the project.
Phase one of the renovations is set to be complete in time for KU’s season-opener vs. Fresno State on Aug. 23. The first phase focused on rebuilding the west, southwest, and north sides of the stadium. The improvements included a new conference center on the north end, elevated seating, closer premium seating and a new scoreboard.
Who is David Booth?
David Booth is a Lawrence native and graduate of Lawrence High School. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in economics in 1968 and earned a master’s in business in 1969. He then attended the University of Chicago, where he earned his MBA in 1971.
Booth is the founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, which is a global investment firm. The firm manages $853 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. Booth is an avid donor to both KU and the University of Chicago and previously donated $50 million to KU football in 2017.
The Jayhawks’ football stadium — previously Memorial Stadium — was renamed after him in recognition of his continued support.
In the news release, Booth explained the reasoning behind his latest donation.
“One of life’s greatest privileges is being able to give back to the people and places that gave so much to you,” Booth said. “KU and Lawrence are a big part of my story, and it means a lot to support the community that invested in me. Philanthropy, like investing, pays dividends over time. Each gift compounds, creating opportunities not just for today, but for years to come. This is really about the future we’re building.”
Booth, who has donated to many projects over the years, also gifted $300 million to the University of Chicago’s graduate business school in 2008. The school has since been renamed the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
This story was originally published August 13, 2025 at 10:27 AM.
