Koch Foundation boosts giving to universities

McLEAN, Va. — The conservative Charles Koch Foundation is dramatically increasing its donations to colleges and universities at a time when its philanthropy is facing increasing scrutiny, according to tax records.

The foundation gave nearly $49 million to more than 250 colleges across the U.S. in 2016, according to an Associated Press review of the foundation’s most recent tax records. That’s a 47 percent increase over 2015.

John Hardin, director of university relations for the foundation, said the increases stem from the fact that the foundation’s philanthropy is becoming more well known and professors are increasingly approaching them with proposals.