UC College of Law Secures Historic $43.2 Million Endowment

The University of Cincinnati (UC) has announced the receipt of a monumental $43.2 million gift directed to its College of Law. This commitment represents the largest single donation ever recorded in the nearly 200-year history of the institution.

The generous pledge comes from the family of the late Donald Klekamp. In recognition of this extraordinary contribution, the College of Law will officially be renamed the Donald P. Klekamp College of Law.

Honoring a Legacy of Legal Excellence

University officials emphasized the significance of this investment in their official statement. “The Klekamp family’s extraordinary generosity honors Donald Klekamp’s legacy while strengthening our ability to prepare the next generation of talented legal minds,” the university release stated.

This funding is expected to significantly advance the college's mission and expand opportunities for its students. The university believes this investment will position the college for greater national impact moving forward.

Strategic Allocations for Student and Program Growth

The $43.2 million commitment is earmarked for several critical areas designed to enhance the student experience and program caliber. These initiatives include:

  • Scholarship Development: Establishing a new scholarship program that combines both merit-based and need-based financial awards for students.
  • Experiential Learning: Support to broaden the college’s Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program and create an endowed professor of practice to oversee experiential programs.
  • Student Success: Funding for professional staff dedicated to guiding law students, alongside resources to aid in bar exam preparation.
  • Corporate Law Expansion: Enhancing UC’s Corporate Law Center through support for a dedicated directorship, a corporate law/tax endowed chair, and funding for the Corporate Law Symposium and Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic.

Dean Highlights Path to National Prominence

Haider Ala Hamoudi, Dean and Nippert Professor of Law at the UC College of Law, expressed optimism regarding the gift's impact. He noted the need to compete for top students through robust scholarships and deepen the dedication to student success.

“We have been building something here. This gift allows us to take it to the next level,” Dean Hamoudi stated. He added that the Klekamp family’s generosity provides the capacity to elevate the Corporate Law Center into a nationally prominent program.

Donald Klekamp's Enduring Connection to UC

Donald Klekamp graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1957, following his undergraduate studies at Xavier University. In 1959, he joined Charles Keating and John Muething, eventually co-founding the law firm that now employs over 140 attorneys.

Klekamp maintained a strong relationship with his alma mater, serving on the Dean’s Board of Visitors of the UC Law School and the University of Cincinnati Foundation. He received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UC College of Law in 1993 and was recognized as a Greatest Living Cincinnatian in 2023.

A Family History of Giving Back

Donald and his late wife, Marianne, who were married for 65 years, had a significant history of philanthropy in the Cincinnati area. Their past contributions include funding the Donald P. Klekamp Professorship of Law and the Donald P. Klekamp Community Law Center at UC.

Peter Klekamp, one of their children, shared his family's perspective on the honor. “I consider myself very lucky, and my sisters do as well, to have them as our parents,” Peter stated, noting their parents instilled traits like honesty, hard work, and giving back.

Jody Klekamp described her father as the definition of a devoted man—a loving husband, father, and respected founder. She concluded that he remains a constant source of inspiration, demonstrating how to live with purpose and lead with kindness.