INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
THE JEFFERSON TRUST
funds new programs and projects that enhance the University of Virginia and enrich the student experience. Founded in 2006 by the UVA Alumni Association, the Trust is a donor-led organization, providing UVA alumni, parents, and friends an opportunity to engage in and shape the institution’s future.
Every school, as well as many University organizations, centers, and institutes have received funding. Any student, faculty, or staff member may apply, with grants typically ranging between $1,000 and $300,000. Since its inception, the Trust has made 382 grants totaling $16 million.
VISION: To see every great idea at the University of Virginia come to fruition. MISSION: To advance the University of Virginia and the student experience by connecting inspiring ideas with a dedicated and engaged group of donors.
ANNUAL CYCLE GRANTS
Possibilities in Pulp
The Annual Cycle is our largest grant cycle by funding amount, and requests vary from small, short-term projects to jumpstarting University initiatives. In 2025, nearly $1.5 million was granted to 17 new projects and programs. Student experiences, enhancing student learning through internship and research opportunities, and community outreach were key grant themes this year.
Undergraduate Composers Concert & Performance Series: $33,415
Funding helps create a concert series featuring performances of original music by student composers.
Possibilities in Pulp: Reusing Paper Waste on Grounds: $15,000
This project aims to reduce paper waste at the School of Architecture by further developing and testing paper pulp manufacturing techniques, and piloting strategies for scaling this process for long-term use.
Virginia Student Film Festival: $30,000
A student film festival showcasing undergraduate filmmakers across Virginia, which included screenings, networking events, and panel discussions with industry professionals.
Dark Matter Radio Telescope at UVA’s Fan Mountain Observatory: $249,850
The Astronomy Department will purchase and install a fully steerable DSA-2000 radio telescope, increasing student training and research opportunities.
Simulated Lunar Surface Arena for Robotics Testing: $86,000
The Mechatronics and Robotics Society (MARS) is building a simulated lunar surface arena to test lunar robots and better compete in NASA’s Lunabotics competitions.
Office of the Architect for the University Student Internship Initiative: $70,000
This three-year pilot engages students in the University’s variety of design and planning projects and provides access to mentorship and internship opportunities.
Daniel S. Adler Student Award
Sound on Grounds: Student Podcast
Production and Distribution Team: $83,500
This project aims to increase students' knowledge of and access to podcasting resources at UVA and support their creative development.
John B. Syer Award
STREAM Ambassadors Expansion: $60,000
Funding expands the Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math (STREAM) Ambassadors program at UVA Wise, involving students and local youth through new workshops, camps, and speaker series.
VLPP
Education Program: $70,000
In partnership with The Decarceration Clinic at UVA Law and Resilience Education, funding expands the Entrepreneurial Reentry Education Program model to include UVA’s first legal studies course, designed for incarcerated learners, and developed and taught by UVA law school students.
Cyber Systems and Operations: $30,000
This speaker series brings industry experts to the classroom, exposing students to real-world insights and experiences, enhancing their critical thinking, and preparing them for careers in cybersecurity.
Simulated Lunar Surface Arena for Robotics Testing
VLPP Education Program
Sound on Grounds
Criminal Justice Data Training
Equitable Healthcare Access: Evidence-based Concussion Management for UVA Students: $297,191
The Sports as a Laboratory Assessment Model (SLAM) will be implemented within Student Health & Wellness to improve outcomes through equitable access to clinical care for UVA students with a concussion.
Criminal Justice Data Training Center: $78,594
Funding establishes a new Criminal Justice Data Training Center in the School of Data Science, which will train students in data analytics of the criminal justice system and support them as community partners.
Ashley Thompson Manning Health Innovation Award Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Young Children in Virginia: $80,000
Funding helps to develop a flagship clinic to increase access to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy by training UVA psychologists, graduate students, and community therapists, reaching more parents and children in need in underserved areas.
Increasing Local Non-Profit Community Impact with UVA Student Internship to Improve Data Collection: $76,350
An initiative of the UVA Statistics Department, this project supports student interns’ work in data collection, analysis, & interpretation strategies for local non-profits.
Wayne D. Cozart Global Award Safeguarding Science: Developing Knowledge and Tools to Prevent Scientific Fraud: $86,987
A taxonomy of scientific fraud is being developed to identify types of wrongdoing, involved organizations and their motivations, then engineering tools and methods to address the problems.
The Fried Center for Advancement of Potential (FCAP) Intern Training Program at Student Health and Wellness: $104,162
This project provides internship opportunities and experiential learning for undergraduate students pursuing healthcare careers and affordable functional exercise intervention for students in need of care.
Jefferson Engineering Lectureship at UVA: $30,000
A lecture series that brings experts in the fields of data science, healthcare, and environmental sciences to UVA, exposing engineering students and faculty to pioneering research ideas and interdisciplinary innovation.
Fried Center for Advancement Potential
FLASH FUNDING
Funding ideas in a flash is the goal of this grant cycle. Grants of up to $10,000 are awarded on a month-month basis for short-term projects that are primarily student-led or focused. In 2025, $115,558 was awarded to nineteen new projects. New student learning experiences and professional development opportunities were key themes this year.
Hypersonic ReEntry Deployable Glider Experiment (HEDGE): $10,000
Students in the School of Engineering will build and collect data on hypersonic reentry dynamics from a CubeSAT launch this summer at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
Prometheus Hybrid Rocket Motor Project: $10,000
The UVA Rocketry team will design, manufacture, and fly a Student-Researched and Developed (SRAD) propulsion device, with plans to compete at the International Rocket Engineering Competition.
UVA
Speaking Center: $9,020
The UVA Speaking Center is a resource to help UVA students become effective public speakers through individual consultations and workshops.
Caminos Brillantes Initiative: $3,479
Cultural Latinx Advancement for Resources and Opportunities (CLARO) provides professional development resources and opportunities through workshops.
Hands-on Design-Build: Constructing at Scale within the Curriculum: $9,000
Undergraduate Architecture students will construct a timber structure, gaining critical skills in timber building, construction detailing, and material sourcing.
Bits and Bytes: $9,735
This interdisciplinary course teaches the history of vampires in video games, learning the basics of programming and the history of vampires in this medium.
Striving Toward Academic Readiness
(STAR): $9,969
UVA students are helping local underserved high school students demystify the college experience and build confidence through seminar-style classes, mentor sessions, and discussions.
Advancing BAPS and Associated Systems
Engineering Projects at UVA: $7,000
Become a Problem-Solver (BAPS) seeks to apply systems engineering principles and problem-solving techniques to improve the operations of UVA service organizations.
Prometheus Hybrid Rocket Motor Project
Women's Lifelong Wellness Initiative: $9,610
Students in the Department of Kinesiology are providing free, individualized health screenings, education, and lifestyle plans for women in the community to maintain a healthy lifestyle as they age.
Clean Plate Project: $4,040
Partnering with the Ronald McDonald House and the Yellow Door Foundation, this project hosts weekly cooking sessions and deliver meals to UVA Children’s Hospital patients and families.
UVA’s
Inaugural Moot Court Competition:
$9,000
Funding expands the UVA Law Moot Court and the American Moot Court resources to bolster interest and access in the UVA undergraduate community.
MKG
2025: Enabling Student Experimentation and Leadership: $1,572
Funding helps Morven Kitchen Garden increase farm production, community engagement, and student leadership opportunities through the expansion of gardening techniques and an improved compost system.
Biophilic Region Charlottesville and Albemarle County (CAC) Exhibition: $9,810
A team from the School of Architecture is establishing central Virginia as a recognized Biophilic Region with abundant green spaces, integrated natural elements, support for biodiversity, sustainable urban practices, education, and community engagement. Funding helps publicly launch the project through an exhibition and community events.
CavsCARE: CPR Training for UVA: $6,000
UVA students who are CPR, AED, and First Aid certified trainers are volunteering their time to instruct and certify other students, expanding these lifesaving skills.
This is Not a Debate Event Series: $3,161.95
This student-led panel series explores pressing issues in politics, ethics, and current events, offering a model for thoughtful and productive political dialogue.
Blossoming Chemistry: Beautifying the AXE Garden: $350
Presenting a living and learning experience in sustainability for students, funding helps rebuild a garden at the Alpha Chi Sigma house.
Chemistry Building Plants: $175
Bringing some biology into chemistry, this grant adds plants to work and study spaces in the Chemistry Building to make it a more comfortable space.
Dinners With Doctors:
$2,904
From the Women in Medicine Initiative, the Dinners with Doctors series aims to connect students with women in medicine to build engagement, mentorship opportunities, and gain insights into the medical field.
50th Anniversary Concert: $730
Funding supports the Virginia Women’s Chorus 50th Anniversary Concert.
Cavs CARE
Morven Kitchen Garden
TRUSTEES
The Trust is managed by a Board of Trustees who make all grant decisions and are responsible for the organization's governance. The Trustees are UVA alumni, parents, and friends who want to have a hands-on experience in giving across Grounds. They join from around the globe and span six decades of alumni. Their unique backgrounds and skills combine to form a board that is collegial, collaborative, and fun.
Engagement
Trustees engage with students, faculty, staff, and fellow Trustees to learn more about, and shape the University’s future. Trustees are part of the life of UVA, working together to make it an even better place.
Impact
A Trustee who joined this year is projected to be part of granting over $9 million across the Grounds. Each Trustee’s expertise is called on to help determine the best proposals to fund, and which will have the greatest impact.
Giving Commitment
Trustees give or pledge at least $150,000 as part of their board commitment.
Time Commitment
Trustees serve a five-year term and have multiple opportunities each year to lend their expertise in grantmaking, committee service, and advising or supporting grantees.
Trustees
M. Alexandra Arriaga, Chair, Col ‘87 Arlington, Virginia
Jennifer R. Nisi, Vice-Chair, Engr ‘98 Poughkeepsie, New York
Daniel S. Adler, Engr ‘88 Fairfax, Virginia
John A. Ayers, Col ‘97 Haymarket, Virginia
Daniel H. Benckart, Col ‘73 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Jane H. Bradshaw, Col ‘85
John J. Bradshaw, Arch ‘84 Reston, Virginia
Sarah F. Bridenhagen, Col ‘09 Palmyra, Virginia
Sarah R. Bridenhagen, Educ ‘80 Keswick, Virginia
George H. Brown, Col ‘19 San Francisco, California
Erin F. Burgoyne, Parent ‘16
James F. Burgoyne, Parent ‘16 Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Cameron B. Burn, Col ‘98
J. Duncan Burn, Darden ‘07 Denver, Colorado
Faith Lyons Burns, Com ‘16
John A. Burns, Col ‘14, ‘15 Washington, D.C.
Victoria Davis Chen, MD, Col ‘92
Stephen M. Chen, MD Richmond, Virginia
Michael S. Christopher, Com ‘00 Houston, Texas
Jonathan C. Clark, Col ‘81
Theresa Tierney Clark, Parent ‘16, ‘22 Paradise Valley, Arizona
Alan C. Cline, Engr ‘94 Austin, Texas
Stefan H. Cushman, Col ‘92 Saint Petersburg, Florida
Anthony J. DiClemente, Com ‘98 New York, New York
Molly McCarty Dunnington, Com ‘97 Charlottesville, Virginia
Douglas E. Eckert, Col ‘87, Law ‘93 Mountain Brook, Alabama
Jocelyn S. Ege, Col ‘04
John A. Ege, Col ‘01 Englewood, Colorado
Allison B. Elkins, Com ‘17
Harry C. Elkins, Engr ‘17 Houston, Texas
Lee R. Forker Jr., Darden ‘63 Hingham, Massachusetts
Carson H. Gibson, Com ‘16 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Frank R. Gough, III, Com ‘04 New York, New York
Sarah D. Graham, Engr ‘00
Jonathan C. Graham, Col ‘00 Winnetka, Illinois
Maria T. Gutierrez, Col ‘90 Weston, Florida
Melissa J. Hutson, Col ‘98, Law ‘01 Darien, Connecticut
Christie Graham Jacobs, Com ‘03 New York, New York
Alan S. Kava, Col ‘87 New York, New York
William A. Lascara, Col ‘80 Virginia Beach, Virginia
Eric F. Leon, Col ‘90 New York, New York
Ashley Thompson Manning, Com ‘97 Englewood, Colorado
Steven A. Marks, Com ‘93 Fort Lauderdale, Florida
William C. Martin, Com ‘00 Rocky Hill, New Jersey
Jon E. Mattson, Com ‘90 New York, New York
Adrienne S. McCallister, Com ‘97 Austin, Texas
Andrew McGuire, Law ‘99 Glenview, Illinois
Scott McLellan, Com ‘98 Glen Head, New York
Amy T. McPheeters, MArch ‘96
Paul M. McPheeters, Parent ‘27 Avon, Colorado
Paul M. Meurer, Com ‘97
Lysa A. Meurer, Parent ‘19, ‘22 Coronado, California
Holly Michaud, Parent ‘27 Denver, Colorado
Carter S. Moore, Col ‘18 New York, New York
Ashlee A. Morningstar, Col ‘98
John E. Morningstar, Com ‘98 Greenwich, Connecticut
Paul Nolde, Col ‘01 Richmond, Virginia
Sharon M. Owlett, Law ‘75 Williamsburg, Virginia
Emily Philpott, Parent ‘26
Christopher W. Tetzeli, Col ‘91 Denver, Colorado
William N. Pike, Engr ‘16 Dallas, Texas
Timothy J. Ranzetta, Com ‘89 Palo Alto, California
Jill F. Reid, Col ‘11 New York, New York
Neal R. Rudge, Col ‘86 Bangkok, Thailand
William C. Sanders, Jr., Parent ‘18 McLean, Virginia
Sarah C. Semegen, Col ‘06 San Francisco, California
Lindsey N. Shavers, Col ‘20, SDS ‘22 Chicago, Illinois
B. Hanson Slaughter, Com ‘94 Birmingham, Alabama
Rebecca B. Sperling, Col ‘93
John W. Sperling, MD, Col ‘90, Med ‘94 Rochester, Minnesota
Holly M. Stancil, Col ‘96
Mark T. Stancil, Col ’96, Grad ‘99, Law ‘99 Charlottesville, Virginia
Honour A. Thornton, Nurs ‘10
John D. Thornton, Com ‘09 Virginia Beach, Virginia
Marie G. Tybur, Col ‘97
James S. Tybur, Engr ‘97 Westport, Connecticut
David B. Wells, Com ‘93 Los Gatos, California
Lily E. West, Darden ‘12 Charlottesville, Virginia
Adrienne Woodard, Parent ‘08
Keith O. Woodard, Parent ‘08 Charlottesville, Virginia
Sarah J. Zimmerman, Educ ‘90
Todd G. Zimmerman, Law ‘90 Greenwood, Virginia
“Becoming a part of the Jefferson Trust has given me an incredible chance to reconnect with the University and engage with some of the remarkable efforts of students, faculty, and the wider Charlottesville community. As a donor-led funding organization dedicated to innovation, I appreciate our charter to channel support towards both strategic initiatives and passion projects alike.”
-Jenn Nisi, Trustee and Vice Chair
Additional Donors
Andy Anderson
Donna Arehart & Gary Chovan
Kim Buckey
Mike & Mary Chinn
Allison Christopher
Sherrie Collins Shield
Raj Doshi
Andrew Dunnington
Kathryn Eckert
Charles & Patricia Elcan
Katherine Eslao
Laird Gough
Timothy Guzi
Robert Hilliard
Andrew & Allison Kang
Lisa Kava
Timothy & Cheryl Kitt
Scott & Mary Kulp
Katherine Lucas
Peyton Manning
Alexandra Marks
Deanne Maynard
Blake McCallister
Emily McLellan
Paul McPheeters
Barbara Mullen
Brent & Erin Percival
Alex & Liz Pugatch
Chuck Owlett
Bob & Mona Riordan
Matthew Rizzo
Dr. Christian Edward Shield
Benevity on behalf of Google
Christie and Ben Jacobs Family Foundation
Community Fdn. of Jackson Hole
Community Foundation of Greater Richmond
DAFgiving360
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
J A Rogers & P F Rissler Foundation
J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund
Morgan Stanley Gift Fund
Performance Equity Management
Pike Enterprises, LLC
Roger S. Firestone Foundation
The Melville Foundation
The Patty and Doug Reid Family Fdn.
The Pelican Foundation
Trust Sourcing Solutions, LLC
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Prog.
W. L. Lyons Brown, Jr. Char. Fdn.
Woodard Properties, Inc.
GRANT ENDOWMENTS TS
In addition to the unrestricted grant endowment, donors who commit $1 million or more may also fund, name, and designate a grant endowment in an area that is meaningful to them. Four of these accounts are now fully endowed and comprise ten percent of annual grant funding. An additional eight pledged accounts have been started and are building toward endowment.
Daniel S. Adler Student Award
As a Lawn resident and advocate for the student experience, Mr. Adler established the Award in 2016 to support student projects. Since then, it has funded a wide range of grants, including musicals, research at Chichén Itzá, poetry events, and the repurposing of surplus computers to build STEM kits for elementary students.
Wayne D. Cozart Global Award
Created through the generosity of several donors, this endowment honors the Trust’s long-serving executive director. It has supported a wide range of grants, including climate resilience efforts, Aboriginal art exhibitions, decarbonization work, and immersive experiences in democracy education, among others.
John B. Syer Award
After his passing in 2019, the Syer family and others created this unrestricted endowment to honor Jack’s legacy as a founder and the first executive director of the Trust. Since its first grant in 2021, the endowment has funded initiatives that integrate VR headsets into medical education and helped UVA facilities advance careers in the trades.
Ashley Thompson Manning Health Innovation Award
As a strong supporter of the Trust and a passionate healthcare advocate, Mrs. Manning established the award to promote innovative, interdisciplinary advances in health. The endowment has supported projects like OrChID-Bio, which could aid in drug development, and the SPRINT program, which advances athletes’ recovery from ACL injuries.
Pledged:
Owlett Fund
John & Jane Bradshaw Fund
B. Hanson & Melissa Clark Slaughter Fund
Percival Endowment
Nisi Family Endowment
Gough Family Endowment
Doshi Fund
Schell Family Fund
"Grant Endowments are a flexible way for donors to give, grow, and grant funds."
-Hanson Slaughter, Development Committee Chair
FINANCE
The Trust holds multiple grant and operating endowments. Divestments are 4-6% annually, from each endowment’s average account balance over the previous twelve quarters. This ‘smoothed model’ provides stable and sustainable funding. Investments are managed by the University of Virginia Investment Management Company (UVIMCO) with accounting and gift processing services by the UVA Fund.
After a meteoric rise in 2021, UVIMCO cites a 7-8% annualized return over the 7–10-year range for their longterm investment pool. This growth is bolstered by donor support, which consistently adds over $1.5 million to the endowments each year.
ENDOWMENTS
$50,000,000
$40,000,000
$30,000,000
$20,000,000
$10,000,000
$0
Sustainable grant funding increases and prudent operational spending have created a divergence in expenditures, meaning the cost to administer the Trust continues to decrease relative to the grant amount awarded. While operational investment is important, we strive to minimize operating costs while maximizing grant funding.
EXPENDITURES
IMPACT
This year's grants add to an impressive history of impact that reverberates across Grounds and around the globe. Often serving as seed funding, many projects have become staples at the University, robust research enterprises, and pan-University initiatives.
GRANTS BY TYPE 2006-25
29% Student Life Experiences
17% Science & Technology
16% Arts
11% Community Relations
10% Pan University
7% DEI
4% Global
3% Faculty Excellence
2% Sustainability
1% Brick & Mortar
Roadmap Scholars
“In the tradition of student self-governance, the Trust invests real dollars in students' ideas, allowing them to dream big, to innovate, and to try audacious things. That opportunity and faith contribute to the margin of excellence that distinguishes UVA's student experience.”
-Julie Caruccio, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Office of Student Affairs
GROWTH IN GRANT FUNDING
$1,800,000
$1,600,000
$1,400,000
$1,200,000
$1,000,000
$800,000
$600,000
$400,000
$200,000
$0
Starr Hill Pathways
Searching for Hidden Chambers in the Temple of Kukulcán
