The anonymous $5 million gift will support the university’s work with Indiana Women’s Prison.
Marian University has received a $5 million gift from an anonymous source to establish the St. Margaret of Cortona Fund for Dignity and New Beginnings, which will support the university’s partnership with the Indiana Women’s Prison. The new endowed fund will provide incarcerated women with educational assistance, basic necessities, and resources to help them reenter society upon their release.
According to an article on Marian University's website, the anonymous donor was quoted as saying of their gift, “We have seen firsthand what education can mean in the lives of women who are incarcerated, and I am in absolute awe of their intelligence, discipline, and motivation. Our family has come to know women who have taken advantage of every opportunity to learn and prepare themselves for what comes next. We know a Marian education can open doors they may never have imagined possible, and we are honored to help ensure those opportunities will be there for women for generations to come.”
The St. Margaret of Cortona Fund for Dignity and New Beginnings is named for the 13th-century Franciscan St. Margaret of Cortona, who was known for caring for individuals who lived life in the margins, and those who lived in poverty.
Marian University has a partnership with Indiana Women’s Prison and the Rockville Correctional Facility, as well as Bard Prison Initiative’s Consortium for Liberal Arts in Prison and the Indiana Prison Liberal Arts Network. The work with the Indiana Women’s Prison began for the university in 2019 when a group of faculty members began educating 16 incarcerated women. In the 2025-2026 school year, the program served almost 60 students.
The program allows incarcerated students to earn associate and bachelor degrees on a full-time basis. Students will be able to participate in study halls, wellness workshops, career development, and student organizations in addition to their degree studies. Following the student’s reentry, the program will continue to provide the student with support to continue their education.
Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener said, “Marian University was founded by women who understood that education has the power to transform lives, families, and communities. That conviction remains at the heart of our faculty with the full support of the Board of Trustees, leadership, and donors. This extraordinary gift will help ensure that commitment is resourced in perpetuity. We are profoundly grateful to this family for believing in Marian University’s transformative mission to advance Human Flourishing – including those living on society’s margins.”
For more information about Marian University, visit the school’s website.