Investing in Arkansas' Future

Donaghey Scholars in front of Cooper Fountain

Our Mission

The George W. Donaghey Foundation exists to strengthen Arkansas’s future by investing in education, innovation, and leadership development. With a focus on long-term impact, the Foundation supports institutions, programs, and people who are committed to excellence and opportunity. At its core, the Foundation is driven by the belief that a better Arkansas begins with bold ideas and the people equipped to bring them to life.

Our Story

In 1929 when George and Louvenia Donaghey established the George W. Donaghey Foundation, the governing Trust document directed that all grants from their Foundation be made for the benefit of Little Rock Junior College or its successors. Little Rock Junior College had only been in existence two years when this Foundation was established. Also in 1927, the new Little Rock High School (now Little Rock Central High School) building had just been opened. Little Rock Junior College founded the same year (1927) was also housed in the new Little Rock High School building that was opening the same school year, just on a separate floor. The Little Rock High School Board also served as the original Trustees of the Foundation until1957 when new Trustees were appointed replacing the school board members as the Trustees of the Foundation.

In 1949 Little Rock Junior College moved to its present location on South University Avenue situated on 80 acres of land donated by Raymond Rebsamen. The Foundation assisted Little Rock Junior College financially to facilitate the move from being a separate floor in a high school building to having its own campus location. In 1957 Little Rock Junior College became a four year university known as Little Rock University. In 1969 the university became a part of the University of Arkansas System operating as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Following the directive of the Foundation’s original Trust document, the ultimate successor of Little Rock Junior College to receive all the benefits of the George W. Donaghey Foundation funding grants is now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The Man

George Washington Donaghey was the twenty-second Governor of Arkansas (1909 - 1913). He was known as the Education Governor because during his term he began the Arkansas State Department of Education and funded four agriculture high schools that later became Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, Southern Arkansas University and the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Prior to his term as Governor while living in Conway, Donaghey contributed one-third of his assets at the time ($1,500) to move Hendrix College to Conway in 1890, he pledged $5,000 to bring Central College for Women to Conway in 1892, and in1907 he led the fundraising to bring Arkansas State Normal School to Conway, which later became the University of Central Arkansas.

After leaving office, Donaghey turned his focus to development projects in Little Rock, including the Donaghey Building and the Federal Bank and Trust Building. In 1929, he and his wife Louvenia donated both buildings to endow the George W. Donaghey Foundation, directing its support to Little Rock Junior College or its successors — now known as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

After almost a century of existence, please visit the following links to see what the Donaghey Foundation is doing today

Encyclopedia of Arkansas entry (2023 update)The History of the Donaghey Foundation

History of the George W. Donaghey Foundation

The George W. Donaghey Foundation was established in 1929. When the couple passed away — George in 1937 and Louvenia in 1939 — their will included provisions to ensure that a portion of their land and assets would fund a charitable trust designed to advance public good.

From its earliest days, the Foundation prioritized transformative projects with long-term benefits. Investments have included major contributions to higher education, including facilities, endowed professorships, and student-focused initiatives. Most notably, the Foundation is the founding benefactor of the Donaghey Scholars Program at UA Little Rock—an honors program nationally recognized for academic excellence and leadership development.