21st century philanthropists are transforming a Victorian town

Businessman Rory Brooks recently donated £2 million to the Institute for Global Development at the University of Manchester.

A graduate of UMIST (formerly the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology), he says “philanthropy is a journey and it’s about what you find important in life”.

The university is “pivotal in making me the person I am today,” he said, adding that he supports her exploration of “a whole range of social missions.”

His gift will be spent in three ways: to help the university “form partnerships in the global south”, “discover ideas that could have an impact on the ground” and “show how existing projects are transforming people’s lives”.

Like many universities, Manchester has relied on the goodwill and patronage of the wealthy throughout its existence. It was founded on a donation of £100,000 – the equivalent of around £15 million in today’s money – from cotton merchant John Owen.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, the university’s vice-chancellor, says it “owes its very existence to philanthropy”.

“As we move into our third century, philanthropic gifts play a critical role in achieving our goal of creating a healthier, more equitable and sustainable future,” she says.