Girard
Estate

The largest trust left to the City of Philadelphia is the one created by Stephen Girard. By his will, dated 1830, he bequeathed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania $300,000 and to the City of Philadelphia, cash and real estate amounting to over $6,000,000.

Stephen Girard was a mariner, merchant, banker and humanitarian. Never before had a private citizen of the United States bequeathed so vast a sum for the public good. Mr. Girard’s will is extremely detailed and lengthy; it contains bequests for mainly individuals, organizations and purposes; however, the bulk of his estate was for the establishment of “a permanent College, with suitable out-buildings, sufficiently spacious for the residence and accommodation of at least three hundred scholars and the requisite teachers and other persons necessary in such an institution”. 

Stephen Girard’s legacy by the founding of Girard College continues with the opportunity provided to young men and women who benefit by the programs provided by this outstanding institution. Today, ninety percent of the funding for Girard College is supported by the revenues generated by the investment, real estate and mining operations of Girard Estate. The remaining ten percent is provided by other sources.