ROCHESTER, N.Y. — RIT alumnus and Datto founder Austin McChord has donated $50 million to the university.

McChord, who's been named to Forbes' "30 under 30" list joined RIT president David Munson and other school leaders for the announcement of the largest gift in RIT's history.

“A gift of this magnitude will help propel RIT from excellence to preeminence,” Munson said. “We are so proud of our alumnus Austin McChord. He was passionate about his idea and he turned it into a big success. This embodies the creative element that we want to further highlight at RIT."

McChord, a 2009 RIT graduate and RIT trustee is the founder and CEO of Datto, a Connecticut-based data protection company with engineering and support offices in downtown Rochester.

“My goal with this gift is two-fold,” said McChord. “First is to help make more resources available to students, alumni and the community at-large to create, build and innovate for the future. But it’s also to help recognize those who helped you along the way. My success today would not have been possible without my time at RIT.”

The gift is to be used for two specific educational areas: $30 million of the $50 million is designated "to foster creativity and entrepreneurship," with $17.5 million of that money pledged to launch the new Maker Library and Innovate Learning Complex of the Future. $20 million will go towards advancing RIT's cybersecurity and artificial intelligence departments.

RIT President Emeritus Bill Destler says the donation will have a regional impact.

“I think the future of our region is actually very bright now," Destler said. "Because I think you’ll see other Austin McChords emerge – hopefully some of them will decide to give back to their alma mater. But I think more importantly they’ll grow businesses in our region, and we’ll all be the beneficiaries of a growing economy.”

RIT freshman Jim Heaney hopes to follow in McChord's footsteps.

“I really hope that one day I would be as successful as him and also give back to the RIT community," Heaney said. "Because I can see that it’s a fantastic community of builders and makers. And every little bit can help.”