Moody Foundation Launches $1 Million Moody Opportunity Match to Expand Life-Changing Experiences for Trinity University Students

AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO, Texas —December 9, 2025 — The Moody Foundation is proud to announce a transformative $1 million lead gift to establish the Moody Opportunity Match, a catalyst initiative designed to expand access to internships, undergraduate research, study abroad experiences, and career preparation for Trinity University students with the highest levels of financial need.

The gift launches Trinity University’s Opportunity Matching Initiative, a $2 million effort to create a permanent, endowed base of support for hands-on learning—ensuring that financial barriers never prevent students from participating fully in the opportunities that define a Trinity education.

This initiative also advances the Moody Foundation’s historic $1 billion pledge to education and student postsecondary success across Texas, strengthening long-term pathways to opportunity for students across the state. For decades, Trinity has been recognized for immersive programs that deepen academic learning, broaden worldviews, and position graduates for success. Yet, as the University welcomes more students requiring need-based aid—a 44% increase over the past three years—demand for equitable access to these transformative experiences has outpaced available resources.

The Moody Opportunity Match directly addresses this challenge by inviting additional donors to join the Foundation in creating named, endowed Opportunity Funds with gifts of $25,000 or more. These funds will support students in perpetuity, providing structured assistance for:

● Internships, especially those that are unpaid or underpaid
● Undergraduate research, including summer and year-round stipends
● Study abroad and study away programs, covering tuition, travel, and living expenses
● Career preparation, including application fees and graduate school visits

“Trinity University has long demonstrated that hands-on learning is essential to student success—building confidence, leadership, and a clear path to meaningful careers,” said Ross R. Moody, Trustee of the Moody Foundation. “The Moody Foundation is proud to help remove financial barriers so that every Trinity student, regardless of background, can take full advantage of the exceptional opportunities this university provides. We hope this challenge inspires others to join us in supporting future generations of Trinity leaders.”

Trinity graduates already demonstrate remarkable outcomes: 98% are employed or enrolled in continuing education within six months, 40% pursue advanced degrees, and 8% ultimately earn PhDs. These results are directly tied to participation in internships, research, global study, and other immersive experiences that the Opportunity Matching Initiative aims to make accessible to all students.

“We are deeply grateful to the Moody Foundation for its extraordinary leadership and its longstanding commitment to expanding educational opportunity across Texas,” Trinity University President Vanessa Beasley said. “This matching gift is a powerful investment in our students’ futures. By removing financial barriers to internships, research, global study, and career preparation, the match and related gifts help ensure that every Trinity student, regardless of financial background, can participate fully in the experiences that define a Trinity education.”

By serving as the lead donor, the Moody Foundation’s $1 million gift will unlock an additional $1 million in matched gifts from Trinity alumni, families, and philanthropic partners—doubling the initiative’s impact and advancing the Foundation’s statewide education pledge by supporting long-term pathways to opportunity.

About the Moody Foundation
The Moody Foundation, established in 1942 by W.L. Moody Jr. and Libbie Shearn Moody, has funded projects and programs that benefit the people of Texas. With an emphasis on education, the arts, health, and community vitalization, the Foundation has committed more than $2 billion to organizations across the state, empowering Texans to thrive through opportunity, access, and innovation. The Moody Foundation is governed by a board of three Trustees, Frances Moody-Dahlberg, Ross Moody and Elizabeth “Elle” Moody.

About Trinity University
Trinity University is a national liberal arts and sciences university in San Antonio, Texas, the 7th largest and one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., where students learn from and participate in a multicultural urban environment. The U.S. News & World Report has ranked Trinity University as the No. 37 liberal arts college in the nation for 2026. The University’s student profile reflects that of a highly selective national liberal arts institution. Discover more about Trinity University