The George Washington University (GWU) has announced a $25 million gift from an anonymous donor in support of the school’s Textile Museum.

The largest single contribution in the museum’s nearly 100-year history includes $24 million to be placed in an endowment to provide long-term support for textile conservation, curatorial scholarship, and educational initiatives. Half of the endowment will be used to underwrite visiting scholars, advance research and scholarship, and support the museum’s Avenir Foundation Conservation and Collections Resource Center in Ashburn, Virgina, while the other $12 million will support in-person education programs and broaden the museum’s global reach through digital initiatives, prioritizing faculty and student engagement, curriculum development, paid student positions, and professional development for museum staff.

The remaining $1 million will fund current needs including new equipment for conservation, enhancements to the Textiles 101 learning center, technology to facilitate virtual programming and preserve the museum’s digital resources, and other priorities related to the museum’s centenary in 2025.

“This…gift will have a transformational impact on the Textile Museum,” said GWU president Ellen Granberg. “The museum is recognized as a center of excellence for the international prominence of its collections, its academic mission, and its global community. These funds will allow us to expand our leading work in textile collections care, scholarship, and museum training for generations to come.”

(Photo credit: Wikimedia/Daderot)