Matt Painter Named 2025 College Basketball’s Philanthropy Icon
West Lafayette, IN — In a moment that brought tears to many eyes and earned thunderous applause from the Purdue community and beyond, Matt Painter, head coach of the Purdue University men’s basketball team, has been named the 2025 College Basketball’s Philanthropy Icon. This distinguished honor celebrates not just coaching excellence, but more significantly, a legacy of compassion, selflessness, and transformative community service.
Painter, who has helmed the Boilermakers since 2005, has long been respected not only for his strategic mind and leadership on the court but also for his deep commitment to giving back. Over the years, he has become a beacon of hope, generosity, and unity—not just within West Lafayette but across the state of Indiana and the country at large. Being named the Philanthropy Icon cements what many already knew: that his impact reaches far beyond basketball.
One of the key pillars of Painter’s philanthropic efforts is his ongoing work with youth education and development. He has partnered with numerous organizations to create scholarship funds for underprivileged students and has played an instrumental role in building after-school programs that provide mentorship, tutoring, and recreational activities. Through his “Boilermaker Believers” initiative, Painter has helped raise over $2 million in the past five years to support academic and athletic opportunities for at-risk youth.
His compassion also shines through in his involvement with health-related causes. Painter has supported cancer research, mental health awareness campaigns, and hospital expansion projects throughout Indiana. A portion of his annual salary has quietly gone toward helping families cover medical bills, funeral expenses, and therapy services—acts of kindness that he rarely speaks about publicly. Those who know him best say that humility and sincerity define every gesture he makes.
Moreover, Painter’s leadership during times of crisis has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he personally funded meals for local families and front-line workers while working with school administrators to ensure children had access to technology for remote learning. He also used his platform to advocate for social justice, fostering conversations around equity and inclusion within athletics and beyond.
Perhaps what sets Painter apart most is his ability to connect. Whether it’s comforting a grieving family, mentoring a struggling player, or volunteering at a food pantry, he approaches every interaction with empathy and authenticity. His players frequently speak about how he coaches “the whole person,” encouraging growth both on and off the court.
The Philanthropy Icon honor is awarded annually to a college basketball figure who embodies the highest values of service, integrity, and compassion. Painter’s selection in 2025 is especially poignant, marking two decades of leadership at Purdue and countless stories of lives touched and transformed by his generosity.
As Purdue’s basketball legacy continues to grow, so too does the legacy of Matt Painter—a coach, a mentor, and now officially, a national icon of philanthropy.
