John Schnatter

The University of Kentucky has released the contracts related to its new "free enterprise" teaching institute, the result of major donations from the foundations of pizza magnate John Schnatter and businessman Charles Koch.

The foundations of pizza magnate John Schnatter and businessman Charles Koch have donated a combined $12 million to create a "free enterprise" teaching institute at the University of Kentucky. The donation, one of the largest in UK history, is double what the two groups made earlier this year to set up a similar program at the University of Louisville.

A week after announcing the receipt of $6.3 million from the foundations of businessmen “Papa” John Schnatter and Charles Koch, the University of Louisville has released the underlying seven-year agreements.

President James Ramsey confirmed a $6.3 million, seven-year grant that will fund the establishment, staffing and operation of the new John H. Schnatter Center for Free Enterprise. Scheduled to open in the fall, the center will “engage in teaching and research that explores the role of free enterprise and entrepreneurship in advancing society.”

The University of Louisville is set to announce the acceptance of a $6.3 million grant from Papa John’s International founder John Schnatter and major Republican donor Charles Koch for the creation of a free-markets program.

As the University of Louisville negotiates terms of donation with Koch foundation, a glance at how Koch money is put to use at other universities.

The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting revealed last week that the university was in talks with Schnatter and the Koch Foundation regarding a $6 million proposed gift to create a "center for free economics."

The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting has learned the Charles Koch Foundation and Papa John's CEO John Schnatter are in negotiations to make a $6 million gift to the University of Louisville's College of Business. Critics caution that other such gifts have come at the cost of academic independence.