VCU raises $841.6M in record fundraising campaign

Make It Real Campaign launched in 2016 with goal of raising $750M

Published November 19, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Virginia Commonwealth University announced Thursday it raised more than $841.6 million through its Make It Real Campaign — exceeding its goal of $750 million and marking the university’s largest campaign to date.

The campaign launched publicly in September 2016 after a silent period that began in 2012. It closed this June, a year after it had reached the $750 million goal.

“Donor support for the Make It Real Campaign for VCU is transforming the university and helping us continue to change lives in Richmond and beyond,” VCU President Michael Rao said in a statement. “Funds raised during this campaign will have an immeasurable impact on our students, our faculty and staff, our patients and our caregivers for years to come and, in turn, give them the opportunity to maximize their own as-yet unknown potential in the world.”

Through the fundraising, donors established 394 endowed scholarships and student support funds, 138 endowed chairs, professorships, faculty support and research funds. Funding also went to the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, the Inger Rice Lodge at the Rice Rivers Center and the new College of Health Professions building.

“Over 113,000 donors participated in the campaign, with 73,100 donating for the first time,” Jay E. Davenport, VCU vice president for development and alumni relations, said in a statement. “Building those relationships provided the momentum to surpass our goal and reach levels of commitment beyond what we were told was possible.”