Nov. 3, 2026
Contact: Shayne Martin, shayne.martin@missouri.edu
COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri students will have more opportunities to study American democracy on an international stage thanks to a new $25 million grant from Kinder Foundation®.
The five-year commitment will strengthen research, expand faculty expertise and support graduate students at Mizzou’s Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy. It will also expand the institute’s partnership with the Rothermere American Institute at the University of Oxford in England, allowing students to spend a full year studying abroad.
The grant is part of Power the Roar, Mizzou’s historic $2 billion fundraising campaign, and brings the foundation’s total investment in the institute to over $85 million. It will go toward the institute’s endowment, making it the largest endowment held at Mizzou.
“The incredible commitment of Rich and Nancy Kinder reinforces Mizzou’s reputation as an international leader in the study of constitutional democracy,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. “Their bold vision and remarkable generosity advance our land-grant mission, create more opportunities for student success and strengthen our state and nation.”
A major focus of the new grant is the expanded partnership with the University of Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute.
Beginning in Fall 2028, Mizzou’s master’s degree program in Atlantic history and politics will bring together American and British students for a two-year educational experience spanning both universities. The program, which currently includes four weeks of study at Oxford, will expand to allow students to spend an entire year at Mizzou and another at Oxford.
Students will also be able to earn additional academic credits through internships in London, building on the success of the Kinder Scholars DC Summer Program, which combines classroom learning with professional experiences in the nation’s capital.
“American constitutional democracy has always been part of a wider Atlantic story,” said Jay Sexton, director of the Kinder Institute. “Through our partnership with Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute, our students and faculty not only study that shared history but help renew the traditions of transatlantic cooperation that will be as important to the future as it has been to the past.”
Beyond the Oxford partnership, the grant will support continued growth at the Kinder Institute through new faculty positions, expanded research opportunities and additional resources for students, including those pursuing doctoral degrees. Over the next five years, the institute plans to recruit faculty members who will broaden its academic expertise, while also providing expanded international research opportunities for all faculty.
Founded in 2015 with support from Kinder Foundation, the Kinder Institute has grown into a leading center for the study of American political history and the ideas and institutions that have shaped the nation. Through undergraduate and graduate degree programs, study abroad experiences and public programming, the institute connects students and scholars with questions about democracy’s origins and its continuing influence around the world.
For Rich Kinder, BA ’66, JD ’68, chairman, Kinder Foundation, the latest commitment builds on more than a decade of investment in his alma mater.
“We’ve long believed that understanding our nation’s founding principles is essential to preparing future generations to lead,” Kinder said. “We’re pleased to support the students and faculty who are carrying that work forward.”
The grant also represents a significant investment in Power the Roar, Mizzou’s largest-ever fundraising campaign to expand student experiences, accelerate research and support innovations that benefit Missouri and beyond.
“This incredible gift further illustrates the family and foundation’s commitment to constitutional democracy, our students and faculty,” said Chris Smith, vice chancellor for advancement. “The Power the Roar campaign is our invitation to make a difference — a direct way to be part of our momentum as donors, volunteers and advocates. The Kinders epitomize this mindset, and we cannot thank them enough for their continued support.”
