Phil and Penny Knight Pledge $1.1 Billion to Establish Oregon’s First Dedicated Women’s Hospital

Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny Knight, have committed $1.1 billion to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and the Providence Heart Institute to construct the first hospital in Oregon dedicated exclusively to women’s health, hospital officials announced Tuesday.

Beyond creating the state's inaugural women's hospital, the multi-million-dollar pledge will fund significant expansions in cardiovascular treatment, clinical research initiatives, and specialized training programs for heart institute personnel. The funding is also intended to streamline and integrate patient care across the broader medical center campus.

The transformative project addresses a critical gap in current healthcare delivery. Ray Moreno, chief executive officer of Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, noted that female patients experience unique, shifting clinical needs across various life stages, yet they are frequently forced to navigate fragmented specialties and disconnected care facilities without adequate coordination.

Moreno stated that the Knights’ donation provides a rare opportunity to consolidate specialized medical resources into a unified setting. By bringing these essential services together, the health system plans to broaden access for women throughout Oregon and establish a sustainable infrastructure to resolve ongoing care disparities.

The historic contribution comes during a demanding era for healthcare providers nationwide, as medical facilities handle a growing volume of pregnant patients who must simultaneously manage complex chronic conditions. Clinical teams are encountering higher rates of pregnancy complicated by diabetes, hypertension, substance addiction, and mental or behavioral health challenges.

At the same time, regional and national healthcare networks are confronting intense financial strain caused by cutbacks in government funding. These reductions have left hospital systems with limited capital to invest in specialized facilities or new community programs.

Dan Oseran, the executive medical director of the Providence Heart Institute, acknowledged that tightening budgets have made medical systems increasingly dependent on private philanthropy. He noted that large-scale donations eliminate operational friction and empower institutions to execute vital healthcare projects that would otherwise remain financially unattainable.

The commitment also aligns with enduring trends in major philanthropic funding. Benjamin Soskis, a historian specializing in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, observed that medical care and scientific research have remained primary magnets for monumental donations ever since modern philanthropy began in the late 19th century.

Soskis explained that large medical centers are among the few nonprofit institutions with the organizational capacity to absorb and put to work billion-dollar gifts effectively. He added that during a time of heightened public debate over wealthy individuals stockpiling assets in charitable vehicles, the Knights have modeled an active approach by deploying substantial capital directly into existing operational institutions.

Hospital leaders emphasized that the couple’s decision to provide such an immense gift stems from years of partnership and institutional performance. Oseran noted that their philanthropic choices are deeply personal and rooted in trust, adding that demonstrating consistent achievements over time gives donors the confidence needed to make transformative investments.

The Knights have maintained a relationship with the Providence Heart Institute for more than a decade, having previously contributed over $200 million to support its operations. That sum includes a $75 million gift made earlier this year to support cardiac programs.

With an estimated net worth of roughly $25 billion according to Forbes, the Knights have now directed more than $9 billion to charitable causes over the last twenty years through pledges and direct gifts. Approximately $2.5 billion of that overall total has gone to their family foundation and donor-advised funds, earning them a place on the annual Philanthropy 50 list of top donors 12 times since 2006.

The couple’s major gifts have heavily concentrated on institutions within their home state of Oregon. They have contributed more than $2.7 billion to Oregon Health & Science University, which includes an initial $100 million donation in 2008 to establish the Knight Cancer Institute, followed by an additional $2 billion contribution to the institute last year.

Phil Knight’s alma mater, the University of Oregon, has also received more than $2 billion to expand scientific education and research. This funding included a $500 million gift in 2016 to establish the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, as well as a second $500 million commitment in 2021 to fund faculty, students, and research facilities.

Beyond healthcare and academic institutions, the Knights contributed $400 million in 2023 to the Portland-based 1803 Fund for its Rebuild Albina initiative, an effort to revitalize a historic Black neighborhood that experienced economic decline in the 1970s. Their wider giving record also includes extensive support for collegiate athletics, environmental programs, and community sports initiatives for youth.