Alumni Donors Provide Critical Boost to VCU

By Tom Gresham

A new VCU television ad expresses appreciation to the alumni donors who have made recent financial contributions to the university, helping to boost their alma mater in difficult economic times.

The spot, which begins to air this week on Comcast-affiliated stations, follows the “Invest in VCU” piece that first aired in February and attracted enthusiasm for the university and its ongoing fundraising efforts. Both commercials feature a diverse mix of student standouts and others in prominent VCU settings.

The "Thank You" commercial airs as an appreciation for a record giving campaign in the 2011-12 fiscal year and for strong donor participation so far in the current fiscal year. Alumni giving is a critical source of funding for VCU, helping to support university programs, student scholarships and other essential elements of the school’s mission. Strong alumni participation in giving also helps raise the university’s national profile.

“Thanks to our alumni and friends, VCU achieved a milestone last year: raising more money in one fiscal year than ever before,” said VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. “The support and engagement of our alumni nationwide are critical to our achieving and exceeding our goals of today and tomorrow.”

VCU continues to have an ambitious approach to fundraising this year, aspiring to eclipse the most recent fiscal year’s landmark participation numbers. VCU alumni participated in giving at a rate of 10.8 percent in the most recent fiscal year – a figure that includes 16,129 alumni who made a gift to VCU or joined the alumni association. VCU hopes to increase those numbers this fiscal year by adding more than 2,200 alumni participating in annual giving and membership.

Alumni who would like to contribute financially to VCU have a number of options, said Michael P. Andrews (M.S.'05), director of annual giving at VCU, including by directly giving to the university or one of its schools or programs or by joining the alumni association. Each option helps the university.

“The best ways to support your alma mater is by making a tax-deductible donation to VCU or by becoming a member of the alumni association,” Andrews said. “Both elevate the VCU brand and add value to your VCU degree.”

To make a gift to VCU, visit https://www.support.vcu.edu/give. To join the alumni association, visit http://www.vcualumni.org/join.html.

Subscribe to the weekly VCU News email newsletter at http://newsletter.news.vcu.edu/ and receive a selection of stories, videos, photos, news clips and event listings in your inbox every Thursday.