University Initiatives

Private support provides critical resources to meet our evolving needs, and we are enormously grateful to those in our community who give to directly impact our students, faculty, staff and alumni in ways that will enhance their W&M experience.

Top Priorities

  • Unrestricted Support
    Gifts to the Fund for William & Mary help meet the university’s most pressing needs by supporting wide-ranging and multidisciplinary efforts across campus.
  • Scholarships
    By removing financial barriers, scholarships enable William & Mary to attract and support promising students from diverse backgrounds.

Vision 2026 Cornerstone Initiatives

  • Careers
    Employees who can learn continually, think critically and adapt quickly are powerful assets in today’s rapidly changing work environments. Support for this initiative will help prepare W&M students to thrive throughout their professional lives.
  • Data
    For centuries, William & Mary has trained critical thinkers to tackle complex challenges of broad social relevance. Support for this initiative will help expand William & Mary’s presence, influence, and programming in data science, computational sciences, and engineering.
  • Democracy
    At a time when our country is deeply divided, support for this initiative will advance William & Mary’s efforts to practice and promote democratic ideals.
  • Water
    Water is one of the world’s most threatened and valuable resources. Support for this initiative will advance William & Mary’s efforts to develop innovative strategies, solutions and programming that ensure the resilience of the world’s oceans, coasts and waterways.

Current Initiatives

  • Academic Opportunities
    Many programs support the innovative work by faculty and students that keeps the university at the forefront of research, education and collaboration around important issues.
  • W&M's Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences
    The accelerating pace of global change poses grave challenges to marine systems and to billions of people who live near coastlines. With an additional $100 million in funding, William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences will attract top scientists and students, build new infrastructure, launch a new bachelor’s degree and foster global partnerships. Support will ensure a robust offering of interdisciplinary opportunities, reinforcing William & Mary's commitment to innovative solutions for the resilience of the world’s oceans and coasts.
  • Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
    W&M strives to embrace initiatives and programs that build unity, raise awareness, offer vital resources and set us on a path toward a more just future.
  • Health & Wellness
    We focus on supporting a full continuum of health and wellness programs focused on helping students manage stress and gain confidence in their ability to flourish.
  • Internships
    With Vision 2026, we are charged to guarantee a funded internship opportunity or other applied learning experience for every undergraduate student.
  • Veterans
    Several initiatives are keenly focused on growing and supporting the presence, success, well-being and engagement of our military students at the university and beyond.
  • Women
    The university is committed to growing the engagement, leadership and philanthropy of W&M women by bolstering investment in women’s initiatives and programs.

Area-Specific Needs

Arts & Sciences Annual Fund (1413) Provides flexible support for departments and programs, and help promote excellence across Arts & Sciences as a whole. The fund enables A&S to respond quickly to emerging needs in areas such as coursework, teaching tools or equipment.

International Student Scholarship Fund (3568) Supports the W&M international student community through direct student financial assistance for many uses including emergency grants.

Law School Annual Fund (2047) Supports Law School students to meet academic and individual needs related to potential financial challenges.

Mason School of Business Annual Fund (0499) Enables the Business School to meet current student needs and provide immediate infrastructure development to enhance the virtual student learning experience, faculty resources, community enrichment and program support.

Parents Fund (0901) Supports Student Success and Student Life Initiatives at the university, including health and wellness initiatives, internships, leadership training and more, and provides for the most urgent needs of our students.

School of Education Fund for Excellence (2706) Supports tomorrow’s leaders in education through assisting with needed academic and student life resources to navigate current challenges.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science Dean & Director’s Fund (4023) Supports immediate VIMS community needs as well as essential resources for faculty and students.

W&M Libraries Make a Difference Fund (3108) Enables the Libraries to meet pressing needs, including the support of flexible and continuous access to technology resources as well as multimedia and digital learning and research materials for the entire W&M community.

William & Mary Alumni Association Fund (3056) Formerly the Alumni Leadership Fund. Supports a variety of events, resources and initiatives focused on strengthening alumni’s lifelong relationships with each other and William & Mary, including regional networking, career development, and affinity and identity programs.