Transformational Gift for Real Estate Education
Students pursuing a career in real estate will soon see their learning opportunities sharply appreciated: On Thursday, CU Boulder announced a groundbreaking $15 million donation from CU Boulder alumnus Michael Klump to revolutionize the real estate center in the Leeds School of Business, as well as support essential student health and wellness programs in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Impact on Real Estate Center
The investment will allocate $13 million to enhance the newly renamed Michael A. Klump Center for Real Estate. This portion of the gift, one of the largest ever given to a real estate center in the United States, will strengthen the center’s academics, industry partnerships, and career support in the years ahead.
The real estate center, led by Professor Christophe Spaenjers and Julie Gibson, is one of six centers of excellence in the Leeds School. “This gift is pivotal for CU’s real estate program, providing significant resources that will advance the center’s leadership, enhance student programming, and offer student financial assistance,” said Gibson.
Support for Student Wellness
An additional $2 million will support programs in the College of Arts and Sciences that promote CU Boulder students’ mental health and well-being. Through the Hellems Fund for Collective Belonging and the Hellems Fund for Fostering Success, this gift will contribute to mental health programming, resources, and student support.
Promoting Academic Excellence and Industry Connections
Klump’s investment in the Leeds School will expand leading-edge programs with top real estate faculty and industry partnerships. The donation represents a major advancement for the center, which was founded in 1997 by passionate alumni and industry leaders.
The $13 million donation to the center will endow three faculty positions in real estate finance at the chair and professorship levels. It will also create four funds to advance innovative academics, establish an endowed scholarship, enhance students’ career growth, and strengthen the center’s reputation within the business and alumni communities.
A Gift That Fuels the Future
With a successful real estate career spanning over 30 years, Klump is the founder and chairman of RCG Ventures. “I owe a lot of my success to attending the University of Colorado, where I had the privilege of meeting inspiring individuals and forming lifelong connections across the country,” said Klump.
In addition to being a real estate entrepreneur, Klump is a steadfast philanthropist, generously supporting a diverse range of organizations over the years through the Klump Family Foundation. “My hope is that this gift will provide students with broad exposure to the diverse opportunities within real estate,” Klump said.
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