Every Spider remembers the people who defined their Richmond experience. A professor inspired new thinking. A mentor helped make new connections. A coach, advisor, teammate, classmate, or friend helped them see who they might become.
Those moments of connection and inspiration are at the heart of a Richmond education. Generations of Spiders who love this place have invested in the people, programs, and places that make it so powerful.
Now, it is our turn to author the next chapter and to Accelerate Richmond.
Together, we will increase affordability, advance academic excellence, prepare our graduates to lead lives of purpose, and champion Spider Athletics.
Help shape the future of our University and the generations of Spiders to come.
“Richmond was built for this moment. We are committed to: our distinctive teacher-scholar model; opportunity; learning by doing; and our belief in developing the whole person. These are not simply hallmarks of a Richmond education. They are our advantage.
We have incredible momentum. And now is our time to accelerate.”
President, University of Richmond
Setting the standard
then raising it
We believe the future of higher education belongs to universities that value rigor and humanity, scholarship and mentorship, and excellence and opportunity.
That is the standard Richmond has always set.
Accelerate Richmond will strengthen a model of education that is profoundly personal, boldly ambitious, and holistically designed to prepare students for lives of success and purpose.
Accelerate Richmond is the most ambitious campaign in the University’s history — for the dollars we seek to raise, the future we aim to shape, and the broader Spider community we aspire to engage.
Now, with remarkable momentum behind us and extraordinary opportunity ahead, this is our time to press our advantage and accelerate what Richmond can make possible. By 2030, we will have raised $600 million to support the people and strengthen the experiences that make this University distinctive and position it for an even more impactful future.
This is how we Accelerate Richmond.
What about the Endowment?
Richmond’s endowment is one of the University’s greatest strengths — but it isn’t a reserve to spend at will. It is a collection of more than 1,500 individual funds, each established by donors to create lasting support for students, faculty, academic programs, or other aspects of the Richmond experience. Most funds are defined by a specific purpose that it seeks to support long into the future.
While a critical, annual draw from the endowment supports our yearly operating budget, we cannot erode this resource. We have a responsibility to steward it wisely to provide strong support to both today’s Spiders and future generations.
Our aspirations require continued investment. As we Accelerate Richmond, we will build on this foundation. Every gift will create new possibilities for today’s students while strengthening the University’s foundation for tomorrow.
How the Endowment works
- Made up of more than 1,500 individual funds
- Can be established by donors for specific purposes
- For long-term stability