Bill Flatt and his wife, Marihope, pictured at a UGA event. Both died in early 2026.
Giving First: a look back at Bill Flatt’s generosity
Presidents Club Donor Spotlight
For Bill Flatt, philanthropy was a privilege, a joy, and a form of leadership.
A longtime University of Georgia faculty member and administrator, Flatt devoted his professional life to advancing knowledge, teaching students and strengthening the institution he loved. Yet those who knew him best say his most enduring impact came through the way he gave freely, thoughtfully and with remarkable consistency across the university.
Over the course of his career, Flatt served as a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, dean of UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and a professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Alongside these roles, he was a tireless advocate and philanthropist whose generosity touched nearly every corner of campus.
His commitment to giving was deeply personal.
“As an undergraduate, I received 12 scholarships that made it possible for me to go to college,” Flatt said. “That’s one reason I feel fortunate to be able to ‘give back’ to help other students achieve their goals to obtain a higher education.”
For Flatt, philanthropy was both practical and forward-looking — a way to invest in people and programs that would shape the future.
“It’s investing in young people who will have a major impact on the future,” he said. “I want to help foster that. I reviewed my own benefits and realized my family and I are set for the rest of my life. So, I began to think about how I could help strengthen the programs that I feel are so important.”
Through his generosity, Flatt left a lasting imprint on UGA and the broader Athens community.
“Dr. Flatt had a way of bringing out the best in all of us. His joy for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and nutritional sciences never dimmed, and he greeted every update with his signature ‘Better’n ever!’ He uplifted people and programs in a way that will be felt for generations,” said Suzanne Griffeth, senior director of development for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
At the time of his passing in 2026, Flatt’s philanthropic impact on the University of Georgia totaled over seven figures, and because of the number of endowments, those will continue to grow long after. He was the largest individual donor in the history of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and endowed the following funds across the university (in order of establishment):
- Gladys F. (Nannie) Nesbitt/Flatt Education Funds in FACS and CAES
- June and Bill Flatt Nutrition Graduate Fellowship
- Bill and June Flatt Chair in Foods and Nutrition
- Bill and June Flatt Student Achievement Fund
- Melynda Flatt Reid and Kathy Flatt Hutto Dietetics Scholarship
- Bill and June Flatt Outstanding Faculty Research, Extension, and Teaching Awards
- William P. (Bill) Flatt Professorship
- Betty Carico Williams International Study Scholarship
- Marihope Troutman Flatt International Study Scholarship
- Bill and Marihope Flatt Scholarship Funds
- Lynn B. Bailey Lecture Series in Nutritional Science
Flatt also supported the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Georgia 4-H, the Performing Arts Center, the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, WUGA, the Georgia Museum of Art, and University Libraries.
While many people give from their excess, Flatt gave first. He supported programs across disciplines and across decades, responding as readily to modest needs as he did to transformative opportunities. His record reflects gifts of every size — from quiet, spontaneous contributions to major investments — woven together by a singular aim: helping the University of Georgia thrive.
For Flatt, philanthropy meant continually asking a simple but powerful question: What resources can I share today to make the greatest impact?
Just as important as the scope of his generosity was his heart. Flatt derived real joy from giving — so much that his philanthropy at UGA was among the great highlights of his life, according to Katrina Bowers, former senior director of development at the Terry College of Business and Guided Giving philanthropic advisor to Flatt.
“He loved honoring people through charitable gifts and quietly meeting needs wherever he saw them,” Bowers said. “His support was deeply personal, rooted in care for individuals, programs, and the university as a whole.”
For President’s Club members, Bill Flatt’s legacy is a powerful reminder: while the size of a gift matters, the spirit behind it matters more. He demonstrated that true joy comes from giving with intention, humility and purpose.
