Endowment Thresholds
Endowment thresholds indicate the minimum gift needed to establish an endowment supporting key fundraising priorities.
Endowment Giving
The Importance of Endowment
Earnings from endowments provide the great majority of the philanthropic support sustaining W&L each year. When you give a gift to establish or build an endowment, your gift:
- Provides annual revenues that support the chosen purpose of your endowed fund
- Helps W&L keep tuition increases to a minimum
- Contributes to the financial strength that allows W&L to remain true to its mission
W&L has established specific funding priorities and endowment sizes so your investment in an existing or new endowment will be helpful and effective.
Your Gifts at Work
48%
Percentage of W&L's 2018-19 operating budget derived from philanthropy.
$1.6 Billion
W&L's endowment as of June 30, 2018
$18.76 Million
New gifts and pledges invested in W&L's endowment in 2017-18
How Giving To Endowment Works
When you give to an endowed fund, the university invests your gift as part of its overall endowment portfolio. Each year, a portion of the value of your endowed fund is paid out to support the fund's purpose (a scholarship, a professorship, etc.) Any remaining earnings are used to build the endowment's value. In this way, an endowment fund can grow and provide support for its designated purpose in perpetuity.
List of Endowed Funds
Washington and Lee's endowed funds ensure talented students have access to a W&L education, provide faculty with opportunities for research and academic enrichment, support university programs so that they thrive, and sustain the beauty of the historic campus.
Funding Priorities
Your gift helps keep W&L at the forefront of liberal arts in our nation. Learn more about W&L's top fundraising priorities.
CARPE
Teaching and Learning
Washington and Lee's Center for Academic Resources and Pedagogical Excellence (CARPE) will be a space that builds upon W&L's signature strengths of outstanding teaching and academic performance. Located in Leyburn Library on the first two levels, CARPE will offer W&L professors the training and resources that will help them to be the best possible teachers, and provide students access to experts and resources that will enhance their writing, oral communication, research, and quantitative skills and improve executive function.
A Welcoming Community
Inclusion and Engagement
Washington and Lee's mission includes preparing graduates for engaged citizenship in a global and diverse society. To accomplish this objective, students need the ability to interact with highly talented peers, faculty and staff who represent a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. Gifts in support of the Office of Inclusion and Engagement will help fund programming, future staffing and resources such as the food pantry, textbook lending library and professional wardrobe closet.
Need-Blind Admissions
Scholarships
Raising an additional $135 million in scholarship support would place W&L among a select group of prominent schools free to admit any student, without consideration of their financial situation. In turn, W&L would be poised to attract gifted students from all backgrounds who contribute significantly to the rigorous academic environment for which the university is known.
Permanent Support
Endowment
Earnings from endowments provide the great majority of the philanthropic support sustaining W&L each year. When you give a gift to establish or build an endowment, your gift: 1) Provides annual revenues that support the chosen purpose of your endowed fund; 2) Helps W&L keep tuition increases to a minimum; 3) Contributes to the financial strength that allows W&L to remain true to its mission.
Contact a Gift Officer
If you are interested in establishing an endowment, please start a conversation with a member of our Leadership Giving team.
Susan Cunningham
Director of Leadership Giving
Susan is responsible for managing the leadership gifts team and organizing the Women's Leadership and Philanthropy affinity group. Her areas of travel include: Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee.
Amy Bersett
Regional Director of Development
Amy is part of the leadership gifts team responsible for securing private support from alumni, parents and friends of the University from the following areas: San Francisco, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Ohio.
William Greer
Senior Director of Development
William is part of the leadership gifts team responsible for securing private support from alumni, parents and friends of the University. He works donors from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Delaware, Northern New Jersey and the Pacific Northwest.
Jay Jackson
Senior Director of Development
Jay is part of the leadership gifts team responsible for securing private support from alumni, parents and friends of the University. He works with donors from D.C. Metro, North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, Southern California.
Nancy McIntyre
Senior Director of Development
Leadership giving in support of the university and development staff liaison to the College. Her regions include New York City, Western Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Colorado.
Kenny Melvin
Senior Director of Development
Leadership giving in support of the university and development staff liaison to the Williams School. His regions include New York City, New York State, Northern New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Steve Wasser
Senior Director of Development
Steve is a member of the leadership gifts team responsible for securing private support for the university. His regions include Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
