WE ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US. W E A R E T H E S T E WA R D S O F
WHAT COMES NEXT. The University of Richmond is remarkably well positioned thanks to our unique strengths, the generosity of generations, and careful stewardship. This is our time to Accelerate Richmond through the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the University’s history. Together, we’ll build on our incredible momentum — deepening our investments in the people, opportunities, and experiences that define a Richmond education — and take our University to even greater heights.
EVERY SPIDER REMEMBERS THE PEOPLE WHO DEFINED THEIR RICHMOND EXPERIENCE. A professor inspired new thinking. A mentor helped make new connections. A coach, advisor, teammate, classmate, or friend helped them see who they might become. Those moments of connection and inspiration are at the heart of a Richmond education. Generations of Spiders who love this place have invested in the people, programs, and places that make Richmond so powerful. Now, it is our turn to author the next chapter and to Accelerate Richmond. Together, we will expand affordability, advance academic excellence, champion Spider Athletics, and ready our graduates to lead lives of purpose. Help shape the future of our University for the generations of Spiders to come.
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For nearly two centuries, Richmond’s visionary faculty, dedicated staff, engaged alumni, and generous donors have built something extraordinary: a University that challenges talented students, supports them deeply, and prepares them to lead lives of purpose. Today, our world needs leaders who bring knowledge, judgment, skill, effort, ambition, integrity, and determination to the challenges ahead. Richmond was built for this moment. We are committed to: our distinctive teacher-scholar model; opportunity; learning by doing; and our belief in developing the whole person. These are not simply hallmarks of a Richmond education. They are our advantage. We have incredible momentum. And now is our time to accelerate. Together, we will advance academic excellence, increase affordability, prepare graduates for lives of purpose, and champion athletics — strengthening the Richmond experience today and shaping the University for generations to come. Together, let’s Accelerate Richmond.
Kevin F. Hallock President, University of Richmond
MOMENTUM MAKES MORE POSSIBLE. Momentum isn’t just moving forward. It’s building on what works. It's turning today’s strengths into tomorrow’s opportunities. Richmond has extraordinary momentum. Join us as we Accelerate Richmond.
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SETTING THE
STANDARD
TOGETHER, WE WILL:
We believe the future of higher education belongs to universities that value rigor and humanity, scholarship and mentorship, and excellence and opportunity. That is the standard Richmond has always set. Accelerate Richmond will strengthen a model of education that is profoundly personal, boldly ambitious, and holistically designed to prepare students for lives of success and purpose.
Increase Affordability
Advance Academic Excellence
THEN
RAISING IT Accelerate Richmond is the most ambitious campaign in the University’s history — for the dollars we seek to raise, the future we aim to shape, and the broader Spider community we aspire to engage. With remarkable momentum behind us and extraordinary opportunity ahead, this is our time to press our advantage and accelerate what Richmond can make possible. This campaign will support the people and strengthen the experiences that make this University distinctive, positioning us for an even more impactful future. THIS IS HOW WE ACCELERATE RICHMOND.
Prepare Graduates for Lives of Purpose
Champion Spider Athletics
THE WORLD N E E D S M O R E O F W H AT
HAPPENS HERE. Our world is growing increasingly complex, changing how we work, create, communicate, and solve problems. Information has never been more abundant. But information alone has never been enough. The future belongs to those who can ask better questions, think across fields of study, reason logically, lead with integrity, communicate across differences, bring others along, and create solutions together. Those qualities are developed through experiences navigating challenges, benefiting from mentorship, and practicing collaboration. These experiences are at the heart of a Richmond education. That’s why we’re built for this moment.
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THE FOUR PILLARS ACCESS & AFFORDABILITY......... 11 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE............ 15 LIVES OF PURPOSE.................... 19 ATHLETICS................................ 23
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O P E N I N G
T H E
DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY W I D E R
ACCESS & AFFORDABILITY At Richmond, we believe a student’s future should be motivated by their promise — not their financial circumstances.
Accelerate Richmond will open the full Richmond experience to students across the income spectrum, ensuring remarkable individuals from all backgrounds can aspire to come here. It also will expand scholarship support to attract the most outstanding law and other graduate students.
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“I COME FROM A PLACE WHERE NO ONE LEAVES, LET ALONE GOES TO COLLEGE. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I AM HERE, AND EVERY DAY I REGARD THIS PLACE AS A BLESSING.” — Scholarship Recipient, Class of 2027
Through Accelerate Richmond, we will establish the resources to increase our commitment to affordability — and be known for it. Your investment does more than enable remarkable students to attend. It expands opportunity by inviting them to take part in all that makes a Richmond education transformative — from close mentoring relationships and rigorous research to internships, international experiences, leadership opportunities, and lifelong connections.
YOUR SUPPORT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS WILL HELP FUEL OUR AMBITION TO: Substantially increase affordability for limited- and middle-income undergraduates to attract the most exceptional students regardless of family resources.
Make our law school and other graduate programs more affordable for talented students.
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WORLD-CLASS M I N D S
F I R S T- N A M E B A S I S
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE At Richmond, every student can build meaningful relationships with exceptional faculty who challenge their assumptions, inspire deep learning and discovery, and equip them to shape their own futures.
As we Accelerate Richmond, we’ll secure the resources to strengthen our teacher-scholar model — investing in exceptional faculty and the mentorship, innovation, and academic excellence that define the Richmond experience. Your investment will help the University recognize and retain exceptional faculty, advance innovative research and teaching, expand expertise in evolving fields, and strengthen Richmond’s distinctive culture of close mentorship and student-centered learning.
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“TEACHING IS AN ACT OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP. TEACHERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD, HAVE NEW EXPERIENCES, EXPLORE NEW RESEARCH, WRITE MORE, AND BRING THAT ALL BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.” — Faculty Fellowship Donor
Through the campaign, we will create a series of new endowments that will help recruit, recognize, and retain outstanding teacher-scholars while advancing emerging fields. These investments will enhance what has always made Richmond exceptional — small classes, close mentorship, interdisciplinary learning, and a culture where students are known, challenged, and inspired.
BY SUPPORTING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, YOU WILL HELP: Create endowed and currentuse faculty fellowships that help recruit, recognize, and retain exceptional teacher-scholars while providing the time, resources, and support they need to deepen mentorship, pursue ambitious research, and strengthen teaching.
Endow chairs and deanships that provide the resources and flexibility to attract exceptional faculty leaders, pursue bold priorities, strengthen academic programs, recognize outstanding teacher-scholars, and advance scholarship and student engagement.
Invest in existing and emerging academic programs, including new faculty positions in rapidly evolving fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, analytics, health studies, and entrepreneurship, while strengthening the breadth and relevance of a Richmond education.
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R E A DY F O R
T H E
NEXT CHAPTER
LIVES OF PURPOSE At Richmond, the power of a liberal arts education lies in connecting curiosity with purpose and learning with action.
Through close mentorship, personalized advising, and transformative experiences, students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead with integrity, adapt to a changing world, and make a meaningful impact. Accelerate Richmond will expand access to hands-on opportunities that transform education into action, and will deepen our investment in the qualities and skills that technology cannot replace — ethical judgment, communication, collaboration, adaptability, and meaningful dialogue across differences.
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“I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT DONOR SUPPORT ALLOWS RICHMOND STUDENTS LIKE ME TO PURSUE MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES THAT HELP CONNECT OUR EDUCATION TO OUR FUTURES.” — Student, Class of 2029
Through Accelerate Richmond, you will ensure graduates across the University are ready to lead successful, purposeful lives — prepared not simply for their first chapter after UR, but for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and meaningful contribution. The campaign will launch a new signature initiative — Richmond Ready — through which every undergraduate will have access to personalized advising, career readiness support, on-the-ground experiences, and skill-building opportunities. This comprehensive approach will help them navigate emerging technologies with confidence and engage in thoughtful dialogue across multiple perspectives.
BY SUPPORTING LIVES OF PURPOSE, YOU WILL HELP: Strengthen personalized advising and mentorship that supports every Spider from their first day on campus through graduation and beyond. Expand career-readiness and on-the-ground experiences that connect classroom learning with real-world impact.
Prepare students for a changing world by investing in foundational skills like technological fluency, data literacy, and ethical reasoning. Develop leaders who can engage across differences through dialogue and collaboration.
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E V E RY DAY I S
G A M E DAY
ATHLETICS Every unforgettable moment in Spider Athletics begins long before the opening whistle. It starts with student-athletes who prepare, coaches who mentor, teammates who inspire, fans who believe, and donors who make it all possible.
Athletic success is one of the most visible and unifying expressions of Spider pride. It reflects Richmond at its best — ambitious, resilient, disciplined, and deeply committed to excellence. Accelerate Richmond will provide the resources necessary to support championship-level athletic programs while advancing the holistic development of Richmond student-athletes as scholars, leaders, teammates, and citizens.
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“THERE ARE JUST WAY TOO MANY BENEFITS THAT RICHMOND HAS TO OFFER FOR ME THAT I CAN”T GET ANYWHERE ELSE.” — Student-Athlete, Class of 2026
To continue competing at the highest levels of collegiate athletics while enhancing Richmond’s student-centered approach, we must invest boldly in the future of Spider Athletics. Philanthropic support will enhance athletic facilities, attract and retain outstanding coaches, expand scholarship and endowment support across Richmond’s Division I programs, and strengthen the wellness, academic, and career development resources that help student-athletes thrive.
BY SUPPORTING ATHLETICS, YOU WILL HELP: Expand endowment support, helping the University recruit and retain exceptional student-athletes, coaches, and staff who embody Richmond’s values and championship commitment. Improve the Robins Center and other athletic facilities through capital support. This will help attract and retain elite student-athletes and coaches, as well as elevate fan experiences.
Bolster support programs that help our student-athletes achieve success athletically, academically, professionally, and personally, while at Richmond and beyond. Increase support for all sports to ensure we stay at the forefront of today’s college athletics landscape and achieve higher levels of national success and visibility.
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RICHMOND WA S B U I LT F O R T H I S M O M E N T. For generations, our educational model has prepared students not simply to keep pace with change, but to shape it. Today, that model is more relevant than ever. Accelerate Richmond is our opportunity to build upon existing strengths, deepen our impact, and prepare today’s students to lead in a world that needs them.
WHAT ABOUT THE ENDOWMENT? Richmond’s endowment is one of the University’s greatest strengths — but it isn’t a reserve to spend at will. It is a collection of more than 1,500 individual funds, each established by donors to create lasting support for students, faculty, academic programs, or other aspects of the Richmond experience. Most funds are defined by a specific purpose that it seeks to support long into the future. While a critical, annual draw from the endowment supports our yearly operating budget, we cannot erode this resource. We have a responsibility to steward it wisely to provide strong support to both today’s Spiders and future generations.
HOW T HE ENDOW M ENT WO RKS • MADE UP OF MORE THAN 1,500 INDIVIDUAL FUNDS • CAN BE ESTABLISHED BY DONORS FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES • FOR LONG-TERM STABILITY
Our aspirations require continued investment. As we Accelerate Richmond, we will build on this foundation. Every gift will create new possibilities for today’s students while strengthening the University’s foundation for tomorrow.
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THIS IS OUR TIME. Long before we arrived at Richmond, someone chose to invest in what this University could become. Because they did, doors opened, lives changed, and possibilities expanded. A community unlike any other took shape. Now, the opportunity belongs to us. Every gift makes the future possible. Every donor builds momentum. Every act of generosity helps write Richmond’s next chapter. JOIN US AS WE ACCELERATE RICHMOND.
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