When JP Conte announced a $25 million gift to Colgate University in May 2025, the choice of where to direct the funds was specific. The gift names the Social Center at the heart of Colgate’s new West Campus, a gathering space rather than an endowed faculty position, scholarship fund, or research center. The decision traces back to Conte’s own path through the university as a member of the Class of 1985.

JP Conte is the founder and Managing Partner of Lupine Crest Capital, a family office through which he deploys capital across private equity, real estate, and venture investments. He grew up in Brooklyn and New Jersey, the son of parents who had emigrated from France and Cuba, and has described his upbringing as one of modest means and strong family support. His account of the naming gift: “My Colgate experience helped me achieve my personal and professional dreams, as both a first-generation student and the son of immigrants, by providing me with an education that continues to serve me today. The new Conte House will be a vital gathering place for students of all backgrounds, and supporting future generations in this way is nothing short of an honor for me and my family.”

Colgate describes the West Campus as designed to give juniors and seniors a residential and social anchor as they prepare for life after graduation. Vice President and Dean of the College Paul McLoughlin described the residential goals as efforts to help students “build community” and “build the skills to live independently and to be good citizens after they graduate.” Upperclassmen in West Campus housing will be connected to first-year housing and academic buildings up the hill.

JP Conte’s board service at the UCSF Foundation and the Colgate Board of Trustees reflects a consistent pattern of engagement with institutions shaping the next generation of professionals. His J-P Conte Family Foundation, established in 2017, has channeled philanthropic support toward education, medical research, and conservation. He also established the Conte First Generation Fund across several universities. Designating a social building rather than an academic structure fits that record.