Kwanza Jones claims Princeton ignored donation inquiries

Kwanza Jones, an alumna of Princeton University and owner of the San Diego Padres, has accused the institution of ignoring her attempts to make a significant donation for several months. Jones stated that she reached out via calls and emails to inquire about funding a residential college or dormitory, but received no response from the university’s development office.

Despite the lack of communication, Jones and her husband, José E. Feliciano, proceeded with a $20 million gift in 2019. Following the donation, university representatives contacted her to ask how they could find more donors like her. The contribution funded Jones Hall and Feliciano Hall, marking the largest donation by Black and Latino donors to the university and making Jones the first Black woman to have a building named after her at Princeton.