Overview
Illinois Institute of Technology owes its existence to an act of philanthropy, and we continue to grow through the generous donations of our alumni and friends.
Over a hundred years ago, in what is called the "million dollar sermon," Chicago South Side minister Frank Wakely Gunsaulus told his congregation that with one million dollars, he could build a university to educate working class Chicagoans. In the audience that day was industrialist Phillip Danforth Armour, who took the reverend’s words to heart and offered the money for the project on the condition that Gunsaulus would serve as the university's first president.
Since then, IIT has prospered through the leadership and support of many benefactors. And we work hard to make sure that we honor their legacies, wishes and family names.
As a private, national university with a global reach, IIT relies strongly on the generosity of alumni and friends, and their gifts not only gave us our foundation, but will shape our future.