Larry Gies pledges $100 million matching gift to Gies College of Business

​Madison Industries Founder and CEO Larry Gies, a 1988 Accountancy graduate, has announced a generous new pledge of $100 million to Gies College of Business, cementing his place as the largest benefactor in the history of the University of Illinois and increasing the impact Gies Business can make in learners’ lives. The commitment is among the top 10 single largest gifts ever to a business school and solidifies him as one of the three largest lifetime donors to any business school in the United States.

Gies’ new commitment is a pledge to match the next $100 million in qualifying donations to the College – driving a total of $200 million in financial impact, specifically toward supporting scholarships to expand access, enhancing the learner experience, and ensuring faculty excellence. In what is believed to be the largest matching gift ever to a business school and one of the largest ever to an academic institution, both Gies and future donors could see their financial impact doubled thanks to this pledge.

“I’ve always believed the greatest impact happens when people come together around a shared purpose,” Gies said. “Gies Business has an incredible community of alumni and friends who believe in this College and the impact it can make. My hope is that this match not only gives them one more reason to step forward, but also enhances the impact of their giving. Every gift, at every level, can open a door for a student, support a great faculty member, or create an experience that changes someone’s life.”

In 2017, Gies donated $150 million to Gies College of Business, which to this day is the second largest single gift to any business school. In 2025, he pledged a $100 million gift to the Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA).