$30 million from Sandra Irving, Sarah Irving and the Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation establishes two transformative graduate programs at U of T

TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2026 /CNW/ -- Sandra Irving, Sarah Irving and the Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation have made a historic gift to the University of Toronto to advance and transform graduate education at U of T, creating a magnet for top PhD candidates to join a vibrant graduate community. A benefaction of $30 million, matched by the university for a total value of $60 million, will establish two foundational programs – the Sandra Irving Fellowships and the Sandra and Arthur Irving Graduate Academy – which will enable talented PhD students to make discoveries, push knowledge forward and take on some of the biggest challenges facing Canada and other countries around the world. 

"I want to thank Sandra and Sarah Irving for their extraordinary generosity in recognizing the importance of graduate students and supporting these emerging leaders," said Melanie A. Woodin, president of U of T. "You are helping us build a critical mass of brilliant, caring and passionate minds who will shape Canada's future and amplify the country's voice and values globally."

The Sandra Irving Fellowships will support 100 of U of T's most exceptional domestic and international PhD students at steady state. Every year, 25 new fellows will be selected and funded for four years, and each Sandra Irving Fellow will receive a $10,000 annual top-up, raising their total funding package to a minimum of $50,000 per year--and making this fellowship one of the most competitive in North America.

To build community among graduate students, the Sandra and Arthur Irving Graduate Academy will connect the Sandra Irving Fellows – as well as the C. David Naylor University Fellows (also supported through a gift from the Irving family) and the recently established Presidents' Impact Scholars – with award-winning supervisors and mentors. It will also host convenings and provide resources and professional development opportunities. Together, the fellowship and academy will help prepare students who are poised to advance knowledge, take on leadership positions and make Canada a more prosperous country in the years to come. 

U of T will provide matching funds for the Irvings' gift, doubling the power of their benefaction to advance these two important new programs. Both the Sandra Irving Fellowships and the Sandra and Arthur Irving Graduate Academy will be based in the School of Graduate Studies, which supports all graduate students in every discipline across the university's three campuses.

Driving graduate excellence--and fortifying Canadian society

Many of the world's top graduate students are drawn to U of T, where they carry out crucial research and help tackle a range of societal issues. They are a fount of innovation, too; U of T's graduate students frequently launch startups and help bring startling ideas to market--new products and technologies that can improve health, drive sustainability and bolster the Canadian economy.

As Canada's leading university, U of T has a responsibility to train these future leaders who will strengthen the country and advance the interests of its communities. The Irvings' timely gift will help realize this vision.

"Graduate students are fundamental to driving U of T's mission," said Trevor Young, vice-president & provost. "The tremendous generosity of Sandra Irving, Sarah Irving and the Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation will help the very best and brightest pursue their education, follow their passions and carry out impactful research and scholarship."

By alleviating financial pressures and increasing access to doctoral research opportunities, the Sandra Irving Fellowships will attract the most outstanding candidates to pursue a PhD at U of T, acting as a magnet for the best scholars from around the world.   

Meanwhile, the Sandra and Arthur Irving Graduate Academy will offer these students a tightknit and supportive community. A robust suite of professional development and mentorship opportunities will support them across the full lifecycle of their graduate experience, including an annual symposium to connect student cohorts, discipline-specific programming tailored to their field and mentorship circles. What's more, those enterprising Sandra Irving Fellows seeking to commercialize their ideas and innovations will be able to access significant supports through U of T Entrepreneurship, honouring the late Arthur Irving's remarkable business legacy.

The resulting community of graduate students and researchers – a critical mass of expertise – will deepen and strengthen in the years to come as its members graduate and become alumni of the academy, where they can share their knowledge and mentor future generations.

"This galvanizing gift will help us recruit and nurture the most promising graduate students in the world," said Joshua Barker, vice-provost, graduate research and education and dean of U of T's School of Graduate Studies. "The Sandra and Arthur Irving Graduate Academy, powered by the Irvings' incredible generosity, will provide wrap-around supports for these scholars, from professional skills development to networking connections. The academy's members will also have opportunities to thrive as leaders beyond the university and contribute meaningfully to society."

A clarion call to strengthen Canadian education through philanthropy

Sandra Irving and Sarah Irving's relationship with the University of Toronto spans more than two decades and reflects a longstanding commitment to education and student opportunity.

"Graduate students are pivotal to our country's future," said Sandra Irving. "We are honoured to be able to reduce financial barriers for the up-and-coming academic researchers and innovators who will make important discoveries, devise solutions to some of our biggest challenges and ultimately help elevate the country."

"My Dad believed deeply in the transformative power of education and he always believed in helping students," said Sarah Irving. "Together, through the creation of the Sandra Irving Fellowships and the Sandra and Arthur Irving Graduate Academy, we honour his legacy and the deep commitment my Mom and Dad have always shared in helping others."

Founded by Arthur and Sandra Irving – and now led by Sandra Irving and their daughter Sarah – the Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation has powered vital initiatives at U of T including the Sandra Irving Acadia University and Victoria College Student Exchange Program, the C. David Naylor University Fellowships, the Irving and Rosalie Abella Chair in Justice and Equality, and the Landmark Project. More broadly, their generosity has supported education across Atlantic Canada--a commitment that informs their philanthropy and has created opportunities for students and scholars while strengthening connections between U of T and Canada's East Coast.

Sandra herself received a master's in political science from the University of Toronto. A member of the Order of Canada, she has made enormous contributions to student success, community building, volunteering and leadership development.

This extraordinary new gift contributes to Defy Gravity: The Campaign for the University of Toronto, which has been raising the bar for engagement and charitable giving in this country and fuelling U of T's mission as one of the world's largest engines of social mobility and progress. Indeed, the gift has the potential to spur further investments to support the very students who will drive excellence in graduate-level research here in Canada, reinforce U of T's research ecosystem and, in the long run, help fortify Canadian leadership.

"Arthur, Sandra and Sarah Irving have a storied history of making a profound difference in education and in Canada," said David Palmer, vice-president of advancement at U of T. "Their generous gift will impact the lives of students for generations to come while also serving as an inspiring example of philanthropists stepping up to strengthen Canada's leadership and impact at a very turbulent geopolitical moment. Thank you, Sandra Irving, Sarah Irving and the Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation, for your thoughtful and generous commitment to advancing Canada's capacity for innovation."

SOURCE University of Toronto

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