Supporting the Next Generation of Citizen Leaders
The A-School has been built on its interdisciplinary strengths to teach, challenge and nurture the next generation of citizen leaders who care deeply about the communities and environments that they study, envision, build, and steward.
In 2019, we celebrated our own 100th Anniversary – marking the establishment of the School of Fine Arts which offered a BS in Architecture degree and graduate architectural coursework for eleven initial students. Today we have grown to a student population of over 700, but our impact remains defined not solely by our numbers, but by the collective strength of the individuals — faculty, students, staff, and alumni — who together are working together to help shape and support thriving communities, by living our values, advancing our academic mission, and being proactive agents of positive change.
At the UVA School of Architecture, our mission is to shape the next generation of innovative leaders, thinkers, designers, planners, and makers who are driven by a shared sense of service as a public university to make the world a better place. Through design excellence and innovative research that addresses the complex issues of our day, we seek to create more just, resilient, healthy, and empowering futures for all.
Why + How to Give
PHILANTHROPY IS ABOUT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
On the individual level, it enables students – graduate and undergraduate – to be part of an extraordinary school and benefit from a unique and powerful educational experience; provides the means for faculty to explore, conduct research, and expand the body of knowledge about the built world; and creates physical environments that help foster community, creativity, and intellectual curiosity. At the collective level, it strengthens the school as a whole, and this drives everything from recruiting students and faculty, to career placement, to the School of Architecture’s national and international reputation.
What follows are the A-School’s top fundraising priorities. There are many ways to support the School, so if these do not fit with your philanthropic goals, we would value the opportunity to help find one that does.
UNRESTRICTED GIVING TO THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE ANNUAL FUND
The UVA School of Architecture Annual Fund is the most direct way for alumni, family, and friends to support the School. Every unrestricted donation, no matter what the size, significantly helps support the areas of greatest need at the School.
Annual Fund gifts make a daily impact and have been applied to top priorities such as:
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Student scholarships
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Faculty research
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Travel fellowships
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New technology
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Innovation in curricula and studios
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Lectures and symposia
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Alumni Events
ACADEMIC SUPPORT FUND
The Academic Support Fund was created in response to student concern that out-of-pocket costs were impeding the pursuit of design and scholarly excellence and innovation within the studio and the classroom. This Fund is designed to assist students with immediate programmatic costs unique to the study of architecture, design, and the built environment.
This fund supports Dean Hutson's priority to make the School of Architecture more affordable and the School's educational mission of service as part of a public university. The issue of affordability in architecture and related fields of study is not unique to UVA; however, our goal is to be at the forefront of addressing the true cost of education by supporting our students, not just focused on tuition, but in all aspects of their academic journeys.
REUNION GIVING
Class Giving Counts!
Your reunion year provides an excellent opportunity to support the A-School in a way that is personally meaningful to you. Gifts to the School of Architecture during the fiscal year are recognized in the class total, which is measured in two ways: total dollars contributed and class participation rate. The fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.
There are many ways to support your class effort. Reunion giving recognizes contributions made to the annual fund, as well as endowment gifts, capital gifts, and planned gifts, such as bequests.
To learn more about reunion giving, contact Kim Wong Haggart, Director of Engagement and Alumni Initiatives at:
434 982 2761
kimwong@virginia.edu
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Endowments produce a steady stream of funding for professorships to recruit and retain distinguished faculty; scholarships and fellowships to support deserving students; lectureships to bring distinguished speakers to Grounds; library acquisitions; and academic prizes to recognize outstanding students and faculty. The University’s unrestricted endowment generates vital funding for operations and enables the University to respond to important needs as they arise. Endowments must be funded at certain levels and may be designated for any school, department, or program at the University. They also may be named by the donor.
To learn about endowed giving and the planning process, contact Woody Wingfield, Director of Development and Executive Director of the UVA School of Architecture Foundation at:
434-924-0266
sww2j@virginia.edu
CURRENT CAMPAIGNS
Our current campaigns align with our mission and strategic priorities. Support our goal of making higher education and design accessible to all, study abroad learning experiences, and curricular growth through these giving opportunities: