Parents Fund for William & Mary
William & Mary’s reputation for excellence is legendary, but it doesn’t just happen by accident. Parents, grandparents and family members are partners in the exceptional education that the university provides for its students.
A crucial component of that partnership is the Parents Fund, which helps William & Mary offer students the most effective tools for lifelong growth and success. The Parents Fund supports Student Success and Student Life Initiatives at the university and provides for the most urgent needs of our students.
Supported Initiatives
From summer research and internship stipends to student leadership training and health and wellness programming, the Parents Fund provides the opportunity for William & Mary students to be part of a strong community and flourish as individuals. Many don’t realize the tremendous depth and breadth of vital programs and initiatives that couldn’t exist without Parents Fund support. Take a moment to learn more about the initiatives the Parents Fund supports.
Parent & Family Council
We also invite you to consider joining the Parent & Family Council, a community of parent leaders that offers families unique opportunities to participate in the life of the university both in Williamsburg and within their own communities.
Giving Levels
The Parent & Family Council is not the only way to contribute to the Parents Fund and make a meaningful difference in the lives of students. Parents enjoy making an impact at a variety of giving levels and experience an enriched sense of community.
Senior Family Gift
Giving back is a long-standing William & Mary tradition, and a great way to celebrate your student's achievement and honor your graduate is to make a Senior Family Gift.
For more information about the Parents Fund for William & Mary, contact the Parent & Family Giving team.
Give Now to the Parents Fund for William & Mary
Parent Giving Levels
Your support of the Parents Fund at every level makes a number of programs possible that otherwise would not exist at William & Mary. Parents, grandparents and family members take great pride in knowing that they are enhancing the William & Mary experience for every single student when they make a gift to the Parents Fund.
Together with Parent & Family Programs, the Parents & Family Giving office provides opportunities to engage families at every giving level. Here is what you can expect as a part of the William & Mary donor community.
All families, regardless of giving, enjoy engaging with the university through:
- Parent & Family Orientation
- Family Weekend
- A monthly Parent & Family Programs newsletter
- Regular Parent & Family Programs webinars
- A supportive network through the Parent & Family Facebook Group
- Regional parent events and access to W&M regional networks
- Cohen Career Center volunteer opportunities, such as hosting externships, internships, speaking engagements, and more
Additionally, donors are recognized through the following W&M giving societies:
- Fourth Century Society (annual giving of $2,000 or more)
- President’s Society (annual giving of $5,000 or more)
- Green & Gold Society (annual giving of $10,000 or more)
- Chancellor’s Society (annual giving of $25,000 or more)
Gifts to the Parents Fund support such programs as:
Undergraduate Summer Research
Supports three summer research stipends in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Humanities and Social Sciences Research Fair
Funds are used to showcase the research undertaken by students in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Co-Curricular Activities
Supports academic co-curricular activities such as student presentations at conferences and student work with faculty on research projects.
“Focusing Your Experience (Years One and Two)”
Programs designed to explore the development of first and second year student transition and persistence opportunities in collaboration with Academic Advising and Student Affairs partners.
Tribe TutorZone Services for SAS-Registered Students
Provides additional TutorZone support for students registered with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) that will reduce barriers facing students who desire academic support while creating equity by offsetting costs for disadvantaged students with diagnosed conditions.
Tribe TutorZone Fee Waivers
Provides fee waivers for the use of the TutorZone by students from low-SES backgrounds, primarily Pell Grant students.
Civic Scholars Project (Graduate Assistant)
This new initiative will be a partnership with academic affairs as a result of the Mellon Grant for Citizen Scholars. The project provides curricular offerings that educate students in multi-disciplinary approaches to civically engaged scholarship with particular attention to the leadership virtues of compassion, intellectual openness, self-awareness, public mindedness, and personal integrity.
Parent’s Fund Scholarship
$2,000 scholarship awarded annually to a student who displays leadership that contributes to an enhanced sense of community at William and Mary.
Parent’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Advising
Presented annually to a faculty member during the Family Weekend opening session to recognize excellence in service as a faculty advisor. Includes a $1000 research grant to the faculty member selected.
Unpaid Internship Fund
The capacity for students to grow their career experiences through an internship supports their own career development. Students are expressing strong interest in seeking internship experience, and the unpaid internship program will enable more students to take advantage of unpaid internship opportunities by offsetting basic living costs.
Professional Travel Fund
Funds help to subsidize travel expenses for Cohen Career Center sponsored trips and activities for students who otherwise would be unable to participate due to financial cost.
Externship Travel Funds
Funding helps support student travel to externship opportunities.
Technology Funds
Replacing 9-year-old technology in an interview room to meet demands of companies who rely on video technology to screen and recruit students.
Suit-Up and Dress-to-Impress Closet
Connects students who have limited financial resources with a discount on professional attire. Funding will also supplement the Dress-to-Impress Closet for students to borrow professional clothing when needed. The goal is for the career-ready student to have no out-of-pocket expense or worry about reimbursement.
Wine, Dine, How to Act Fine Etiquette Dinner
Etiquette dinner in which students are instructed on the art of dining during an interview.
LinkedIn Photo/Business Cards
Provides a photo shoot day for LinkedIn photos and funding for business cards for students.
Community Engagement Grants
Funds support student service during winter and summer breaks, as well as year-round service locally.
MLK Day of Service
A day of service designed to bring students together to learn about the legacy of Dr. King and social justice, and to participate in direct service in our communities.
Local Engagement Internships
Funding supports 9 paid student internships during the academic year and summer, created in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. Each internship is an average of 5 to 10 hours per week.
Education Programs Transportation
Funding supports professional drivers through Williamsburg – James City Schools to transport children to / from our education programs.
Alternative Breaks Citizenship Schools (ABCS)
Allows student coordinators for Branch Out to be trained through “Break Away” to run an Alternative Breaks program.
Population-Specific FYIs
Designed to provide continued opportunities for targeted populations (first-gen, transfers, non-traditional, third-culture, pre-orientation programs, etc.) in conjunction with campus partners and student leaders to support student investment and belonging.
Neurodiversity Summer Bridge Program
Neurodiversity refers to the diversity of brains and minds, including autism, Tourette Syndrome, epilepsy, seizure disorder, ADHD, etc. The Summer Bridge Program is a weekend-long, overnight event that provides incoming neurodivergent students the opportunity to meet and socialize with other neurodivergent students and while also providing tools and identifying resources that will assist in neurodiverse students’ transition from high school to college.
President's Council Retreat
Twice per year retreat for presidents of cultural organizations who are advised by the Center for Student Diversity. The retreats will focus on organizational leadership, collaboration, marketing, and program planning. Monthly President’s Council meetings through the year will help reinforce these key leadership skills.
Preparing for Life as a University Student (PLUS)
Bring together PLUS student mentors with program participants through monthly workshops designed to help new students adjust to life as a college student.
Student Chinese Translator
Hiring a student with oral and written fluency in major Chinese languages to assist in creation of publications for distribution to Chinese families.
Alma Mater Productions (AMP) Major Speaker Sponsorship / Late Night Funding
Funds support AMP with major speaker sponsorship and/or late night funding. Both serve the goal of diversifying options for students and provide more extensive programming.
Branch Out Leader Training
This allows student leaders to be trained to run an Alternative Breaks trip.
New Student Organization Funding
Newly recognized student organizations miss the Student Assembly budget cycle. Funds will serve as grants for up to 10 new student organizations in their first 18 months to support the organization, the members and their initiatives.
Culturally Based Fraternal Organization (CBFO) Retreat Funding
Fraternity/Sorority Life brings an outside facilitator to work with all of our National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters.
Harm Reduction Programming
Provides programming to fraternity/sorority community members on sexual assault prevention, alcohol harm reduction and hazing prevention.
TribeLink
Software platform designed to help manage student organizations and involvement. It will help not only to “encourage and validate student engagement” but will also help “track the impact of involvement on student success.” (www.campuslabs.com/student-engagement)
Leadership Advisory Council
Comprised of alumni of William & Mary representing a broad range of constituent groups. Council members assist with leadership development initiatives on campus and offer guidance on best leadership practices that can be translated to current students.
Student Veteran Engagement
Student veterans may apply for funds to offset costs related to off-campus leadership or civic engagement experiences.
ProtoCall
Provides after-hours and weekend counseling support for students who call the W&M Counseling Center with mental health concerns or issues. Staffed by qualified practitioners, ProtoCall allows us to respond quickly to students' mental health needs when the Counseling Center is closed.
SilverCloud
Online educational and therapeutic modules to address stress management, anxiety and depression.
EverFi
EverFi is a digital learning platform that teaches students through a variety of modules about both sexual assault prevention and alcohol.
Trauma Support Training & Resources
Funding supports The Haven volunteer training so that peer confidential advocates have the knowledge and resources to provide crisis support and assistance to The Haven visitors.
Dean of Students Office / New Leafe Clinic Partnership
Cooperative partnership with the School of Education's Addictions Counseling program to provide students referred for alcohol or other substance-related conduct to receive in-person counseling by Masters and Doctoral-level students to engage students in behavior change.
Financial Aid for Special Outdoor Trips
Reduce the costs for students to participate in Winter Break (skiing/snowboarding) and Spring Break (kayak/rafting) trips
Campus Connect
Suicide prevention training for all faculty, staff, and students aimed at increasing knowledge, awareness, and skills in responding to student distress and suicide
Rapid Referral Assistance Program
Assists students unable to meet the financial burden associated with emergency mental health services beyond the scope of the Counseling Center (e.g. inpatient treatment, urgent specialized individual therapy).
Let’s Get Consensual Campaign
Funds support the Fall 2019 campus-wide campaign inspired by President Rowe’s idea to unite the university in a culture of consent.
Grief Packages
Provides care packages for students who have lost a parent or significant other and for students in high-risk hospitalizations.
Restorative Justice Mediation Training
Training for professional staff to provide the foundation to expand restorative justice practices to students in order to help students learn how to resolve conflict on their own.