The McIntire School of Commerce ensured its bright future at the forefront of global business education by raising more than $22.75 million in total cash gifts for fiscal year 2024, the fourth highest total in the history of the School. New commitments to McIntire totaled more than $40.9 million, marking the second highest amount ever recorded.
Boosted by the momentum of meeting and exceeding its Inspire the Next Century campaign goal 17 months ahead of schedule this past January, 3,288 generous donors gave to McIntire. A total of 579 Dean’s Society members provided leadership gifts of more than $2,500 (or $1,000 or more for recent alumni), demonstrating a strong showing of support.
“I would like to thank the alumni, parents, industry partners, and friends who have been instrumental in helping us reach our goals this year. This support enabled us to move closer to realizing our long-term plans for the Commerce School,” says John A. Griffin Dean Nicole Thorne Jenkins. “Donations to McIntire represent an investment in students and allow us to continually elevate the School’s outstanding programs and services. I am grateful to everyone who joined us in building upon the tremendous legacy of the McIntire School, which is unmatched in business education.”
As the School continues to advance the Building Our Next Century campaign through June 30, 2025, gifts from the Commerce community have ensured the successful transition to the next chapter of the School’s history, which will be highlighted by an expansion of its footprint on Grounds, the strengthening of its renowned student experience, the enhancement of its hallmark programs, and the development of new educational opportunities.
A Landmark Investment in McIntire’s Home
The McIntire Expansion Project is already transforming the University and growing the Commerce School’s footprint on Grounds. An extraordinarily generous $25 million commitment to the School from alumnus Ramon W. Breeden Jr. (McIntire ’56) has a total impact of $50 million, as it qualifies for $25 million in additional matching funds from the University.
When it opens in February 2025, the completely reimagined McIntire home will include the new Shumway Hall on the southeast corner of UVA’s historic Lawn and the renovation of historic Cobb Hall. The expansion project will add several new classrooms and learning labs; a double-height solarium; group study rooms; additional staff offices; and numerous spaces for gathering and community-building, including an atrium in Shumway Hall, which can seat up to 350 people for forums, conferences, and other signature events. In addition to renovations throughout McIntire’s Rouss & Robertson Halls, the expansion project features a host of outdoor meeting areas, expanded walkways, and green spaces.
In total, more than $30.9 million in support was committed to the McIntire Expansion Project in the past fiscal year, including four separate commitments of more than $1 million.
Continued Student and Faculty Support
Promoting access to McIntire’s unrivaled student experience remains paramount to the School, as evidenced by the establishment of several new endowed Bicentennial Scholarships to provide critical need-based financial support to McIntire students.
Additionally, targeted support for McIntire faculty through the Centennial Fund for Faculty Excellence safeguards the School’s ability to attract and retain leading teacher-scholars through a variety of professorships, fellowships, and initiatives.
At the foundation of student and faculty support is the ever-crucial McIntire Annual Fund, which provides unrestricted funds that drive innovation and evolution both in and out of the classroom. A total of $4.1 million was provided to the Annual Fund by 2,804 donors, giving the School the necessary flexibility to pursue value-added opportunities and respond to unprecedented challenges. Growing and bolstering the McIntire Annual Fund remains a philanthropic priority and benefits from gifts of all sizes.
Alumni Leaders Drive Corporate Giving
Corporate support also remains integral to sustaining the Commerce School’s longstanding culture of innovative and inspiring business leadership.
Continuing that tradition, McIntire welcomed pioneering fitness brand [solidcore] as its newest corporate sponsor of the Integrated Core Experience, a wide-ranging curriculum that gives students the opportunity to develop creative solutions addressing real-world business issues while learning from direct interaction with corporate executives.
Likewise, leading middle-market private equity firm Quad-C provided a $100,000 gift in support of McIntire’s Finance Academy program taught by McIntire Professors Michael Gallmeyer and David C. Smith.
In the case of both aforementioned partnerships, alumni leadership proved to be instrumental.
[solidcore] President and CEO Bryan Myers (McIntire ’09) and Vice President of Strategy and Insights Gillian Almeida (McIntire ’10) were eager to make the connection that would give students access to the dynamic and rapidly changing fitness industry, while crediting McIntire’s Integrated Core project for teaching them with strategic thinking and effective teamwork.
Quad-C Vice President Michael Hamod (McIntire ’14) and Partner Jack Walker (A&S ’08) were equally enthusiastic about giving to the School, as the collaboration aligned with Quad-C’s own career mentorship program. The link between their locally based company and their roots at the University also give them a unique viewpoint to more appropriately inform students considering finance careers, particularly in the field of private equity.
