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Strong Commerce Community Support Celebrates School’s Centennial

“The dedication of alumni, parents, industry partners, and friends has been instrumental in ensuring our continued shared success and maintaining our position as a leader in global business education,” says John A. Griffin Dean Nicole Thorne Jenkins.

Rendering of the

Rendering of the "Gateway to Grounds." The Commerce Complex will create a unique point of connection to the Lawn from the revitalized Brandon Avenue district—soon to be a new and vibrant hub of student life. The project is underscored by a commitment to inclusivity. The spaces have been intentionally designed to provide a welcoming and inviting commuter route to Grounds.

The McIntire School of Commerce raised more than $24.6 million in cash in fiscal year 2021, including over $4.23 million for its Annual Fund. Overall, the School secured $25.5 million in new commitments (gifts, pledges, and expectancies) for key priorities of its Inspire the Next Century campaign. Total campaign commitments have now climbed upwards of $156.9 million, driving fundraising efforts to the 63% mark of the $250 million total goal; with matches from the University’s Strategic Investment Fund, those commitments are responsible for initiating an additional impact of more than $33.6 million.

“Though we have all faced many daunting challenges throughout the last year, I am heartened by the McIntire community’s outpouring of support. The dedication of alumni, parents, industry partners, and friends has been instrumental in ensuring our continued shared success and maintaining our position as a leader in global business education,” says John A. Griffin Dean Nicole Thorne Jenkins. “As we welcome students back to in-person classes this fall, unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund remain essential investments in our students and what McIntire provides: an incomparable learning experience made possible only through the programs and services developed and refined by our staff and faculty. I am truly grateful to everyone who has already made this year extraordinary as we continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Commerce School.”

Despite the uncertainty caused by the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, the McIntire community responded with exceptional resolution in FY2021: 3,340 donors, including a record 507 members of the McIntire Dean’s Society (leadership gifts of $2,500+ or $1,000 for recent alumni), helped to support ongoing enhancements and plans for growth. As exemplified by the School’s ability to institute effective modifications in response to the pandemic, these gifts are critical for safeguarding the future of the School’s many innovative programs.

100 Hours of Giving Challenge: Accepted
In this special year honoring McIntire’s Centennial, the Annual Fund has proven to be more important than ever—and the McIntire community recognized its significance by coming together for the 100 Hours of Giving Challenge. This virtual celebration united alumni, parents, and friends, with the intended goal to inspire $100 gifts in honor of the Centennial. Participants were further energized by an added incentive: a two-to-one match made by a generous group of alumni who gave nearly $125,000 in matching funds.

More than 440 members of the McIntire community from 17+ countries participated in the challenge with gifts to the Annual Fund, eclipsing the previous giving day record number of donors by nearly 200. The 100 Hours of Giving Challenge raised a grand total of $198,495—another McIntire giving day record.

A Difference Now and for the Future
McIntire philanthropy fosters the ongoing development of the School’s hallmark undergraduate program and graduate degrees. Innovative growth has resulted in the need for additional spaces for learning and collaboration. The Next Century Building Fund supports the renovation of Cobb Hall and construction of Shumway Hall, fostering student success and strengthening bonds with the surrounding community as a “Gateway to Grounds”; $41.8 million has been raised toward the $101 million necessary total for the School’s new academic complex. The entirety of the building project, slated to be established across from McIntire’s Rouss & Robertson Halls, is being supported solely through the dedicated generosity of private philanthropy.

McIntire donors also remain invested in providing access for students. Seven new Bicentennial Scholarships funds were established in FY21, leveraging the University Bicentennial Matching Funds, with a total of $30.6 million raised for endowed scholarship funds. Beyond Bicentennial Scholarships, the Annual Fund helps many high-performing, high-need students gain access to an inimitable McIntire education. The Annual Fund supports AccessUVA, helping an increasing number of undergraduates—many of whom are first-generation college students—to afford the Commerce School.

In addition to the many alumni, parents, and friends who supported and engaged with the School over the last year, corporate partners also continue to play an important collaborative role benefiting students. Many executives increased their classroom participation and temporarily reimagined the recruiting experience, ensuring that McIntire’s placement rates remained steady during a very uncertain time.

With the collective support from our community, the McIntire School is prepared for continued success and innovation in the 2021-2022 academic year, as Commerce students return for in-person learning on Grounds in Charlottesville.

Find out about all the exciting things happening in the McIntire community. Visit our news page for the latest updates.

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