Dr Rory Brooks and his wife Elizabeth donated £1.33m to The University of Manchester, on 4^th March, taking their total donations to the university to £4m since 2004.

The money will go to the Brooks World Poverty Institute (BWPI), an international centre of excellence established to create and share knowledge to end poverty throughout the world. In 2005 the Rory & Elizabeth Brooks Foundation became the principal benefactor of the University’s Brooks World Poverty Institute.

Manchester alumnus Rory Brooks, who co-founded international private equity group MML Capital Partners, said:  “The Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Foundation is delighted to commit to further support for the University to enable the BWPI to continue its important work as part of a wider commitment to support the bold aspirations of the University of Manchester’s 2020 vision.”

The university has now attracted £100m in private philanthropic donations since its foundation less than a decade ago.

The President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, said: “This is far-sighted, generous and sustained philanthropy of the highest order.  This milestone is to be celebrated with warm thanks to all of our donors, at all levels, and from all parts of the world.  We can do a lot alone, but a great deal more together.”

Looking to the future, the Pearce Report on Giving to Higher Education, which was published last summer, with Rory Brooks serving as a key panel member, reminds all UK universities that, while tremendous progress has been made over the last decade or so, there is a great deal more to do. 

Chris Cox, the University’s Director of Development and Alumni Relations, said: “As a registered charitable institution it is our responsibility to confidently seek and receive support for our strategic priorities.”