University celebrates historic first property gift to support medical innovation
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The University of Southampton has reached a major milestone with its first-ever gift of property. Valued at £600,000, the donation consists of a two-bedroom flat in a converted church in the centre of Winchester.
The transformational gift has been made by Ian and Mags Dunn to support the creation of the Third-Floor Collaboration Hub within the upcoming Institute for Medical Innovation (IMI). Ian Dunn is a University alumnus who started his BSc in Environmental Science in 1980 and later served as the University’s Chief Operating Officer from 2016 to 2020.
While the property’s financial value will directly fund collaborative spaces, the donation highlights how gifts of property are a creative way for individuals and organisations to be generous and make a transformative impact.
Ian and Mags Dunn explain: “One of the reasons we gave property to the University was to open this avenue of giving and inspire others to do the same! Hopefully, this type of donation could be ‘game-changing’, with the potential to drive long-term investment at scale for the University. Our generation is possibly one of the most ‘asset-rich’ ever, with wealth in the form of fixed, rather than liquid, assets. We hope that our gift will show that the University can receive donations in a variety of ways. Beyond the value of the gift itself, we would like our contribution to the IMI to encourage others to do the same.”
The IMI is a £100 million initiative which will be based at the heart of Southampton General Hospital. It is designed to bring together clinicians, scientists, engineers, and data specialists to accelerate breakthroughs in areas such as cancer, dementia, and infection.
The Dunns emphasise that alternative forms of giving can drive philanthropic innovation. As Ian notes: “The IMI has innovation in its title for a reason, so don’t be bound by tradition or classical views of giving. Property, stocks and shares, bonds or gilts could all help the University to innovate in the realm of philanthropy, as well as raising funds for their superb causes that benefit all society.”
The University of Southampton is bringing the world’s greatest minds in science, mathematics and engineering together in one brand new building at the heart of University Hospital Southampton.
Planned to open in 2030 and a £100m initiative, the Institute for Medical Innovation (IMI) will tackle devastating diseases and make faster breakthroughs than ever before.
To make this life-changing IMI a reality, the University has launched its largest-ever fundraising campaign to raise £50 million, having already committed half the funds.
