In September 2009 Marist was bequeathed $75 million by the industrialist Raymond A. Rich. The donation consisted of the Col. Oliver Hazard Payne Estate located in the Ulster County town of Esopus plus $10 million. The mansion was designed by Carrère and Hastings, who also designed the New York Public Library Main Branch. The donation was used to establish the Raymond A. Rich Leadership Institute which has since been focusing on teaching students the communication, interpersonal, and social skills necessary to lead complex organizations in a global setting. The gift was the twelfth largest donation in America in 2009.