Fisher Receives $5 Million from B. Thomas Golisano in Surprise Announcement

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, B. Thomas Golisano announced his plan to donate a total of $360 million to 82 nonprofit organizations across Upstate New York. St. John Fisher University was one of 16 educational institutions included in his announcement, and will receive $5 million over the next five years.

Golisano has a rich history of philanthropy to Fisher which began in the 1980s with two significant gifts. Then in 2018, he gave a gift of $5.8 million, including support from the Golisano Foundation, which funded the creation of the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing. The mission of the Institute is to transform the quality of care and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) regionally, nationally, and internationally by training nursing professionals in field-specific skills and knowledge. In 2023, another gift of $5 million from Golisano and the Golisano Foundation to support the continued growth and expansion of the Institute.

“The only wealth you get to keep is that which you give away. So today, we are committing $360 million to non-profit organizations across upstate New York,” said Golisano during the press conference. “There are so many good organizations that provide so many services and capabilities to people and our domain here in Upstate New York.”

The organizations benefiting from Golisano’s announcement span the education, health, animal care, organizations serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and general community organization sectors.

“We are so grateful to be among those who will benefit from Mr. Golisano’s extraordinary generosity. He is a true exemplar of what it means to give back and the profound impact that philanthropy can have on the trajectory of an organization,” said Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, president. “His long-standing support of the University, including his invaluable service as a Trustee and now Trustee Emeritus, has been instrumental in shaping our institution. This gift will significantly enhance our ability to provide exceptional educational opportunities to those who seek a Fisher education and in shaping their impact on our community in their lives after Fisher.”