Duan Yongping Donates Another $30 Million to Support Education — Total Contributions Near $270 Million
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On November 11, renowned entrepreneur Duan Yongping signed an agreement with the Beijing Normal University Education Foundation, donating $30 million to establi...
On November 11, renowned entrepreneur Duan Yongping signed an agreement with the Beijing Normal University Education Foundation, donating $30 million to establish the Duan Yongping Education Development Fund. The fund will support the university’s talent development, scientific research, and infrastructure projects — marking another large-scale philanthropic contribution from Duan.
Over the past two decades, Duan has donated nearly $270 million to China’s education sector. In late 2023 alone, he contributed more than $140 million to Zhejiang University for campus development and academic programs. Beyond Zhejiang and Beijing Normal University, Duan has also made generous donations to Renmin University of China, Jiangxi University of Water Resources and Electric Power, and other institutions.
Duan’s commitment to education is deeply rooted in his family background. His mother, Peng Jianhua, was a Beijing Normal University alumna and a lifelong educator. In 2011, Duan established the Yongping Self-Reliance Loan Scholarship at BNU to help students complete their studies.
In 2006, Duan paid $620,000 to have lunch with Warren Buffett, an experience that profoundly shaped his views on philanthropy. Inspired by Buffett’s belief that “charity is the best destination for wealth,” Duan has since dedicated himself to long-term, structured giving through a family foundation.
“Charity is not an impulse, but a lifelong commitment,” Duan once said. “The impact of education may take twenty years to emerge — but it’s worth the wait.”
Source: The Founder, Caizhimima
