University of Richmond Announces Historic $150 Million Gift at Kickoff of a $600 Million Philanthropic Campaign

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — The University of Richmond has announced the largest gift commitment in the nearly 200-year history of the school. The $150 million anonymous gift commitment will support the University’s campaign priorities, including making college more affordable for students across the income spectrum.

The historic gift was announced on Thursday, September 24, at an event to kick off the University’s most ambitious philanthropic campaign ever. Through the multiyear fundraising campaign — Accelerate Richmond — the University aims to raise $600 million to invest in its four campaign priorities: Access and Affordability, Academic Excellence, Lives of Purpose, and Athletics.

“We are profoundly grateful for this generosity and the confidence of our supporters in the trajectory of the University of Richmond. We are very excited about the opportunities that this campaign will generate for our students and campus community,” said University of Richmond President Kevin F. Hallock. “This extraordinary gift builds on generations of generosity among the alumni and friends of this amazing university. I could not be more excited about our positive momentum and our future. Our students, staff, faculty, and alumni are truly remarkable.”

Increasing affordability is a primary aim of Richmond’s campaign. A portion of this $150 million gift — $50 million — will match other donors’ gifts to endowed scholarships. The matching gift program — the Richmond Affordability Initiative — will further drive Richmond’s efforts to expand affordability for talented students from all financial backgrounds, including middle-income families, who often earn too much to qualify for substantial need-based aid but not enough to comfortably absorb the full cost of college.

The campaign will also strengthen the teacher-scholar model that makes a Richmond education exceptional. UR will create a series of endowments that will help recruit, recognize, and retain outstanding faculty while advancing teaching and scholarship in emerging fields.

Accelerate Richmond will also help prepare graduates across the University so they are ready to lead successful, purposeful lives. It will help ensure that the University can provide every undergraduate with access to personalized advising, career readiness, and on-the-ground experiences — internships, research, and international travel — that extend learning beyond the classroom, and skill-building opportunities that help them navigate emerging technologies with confidence and engage in thoughtful dialogue across differing perspectives.

Philanthropic support will also enhance athletic facilities, attract and retain outstanding coaches and student-athletes, expand scholarship and endowment support across Richmond’s 17 Division I programs, and strengthen the wellness, academic, and career development resources that help student-athletes thrive.

This announcement marks the official public phase of the philanthropic campaign that has already raised over $425 million. The University has also noted record levels of alumni engagement.

“Every donation, no matter the size, will serve to build upon the amazing student experience that defines a Richmond education,” said Martha Callaghan, vice president for advancement. “Our Spider community gives back to the University in so many ways every year, including through philanthropy, and we know that every Spider engaged and every gift made during this campaign will help us achieve great things for our students and for UR.”

The Accelerate Richmond campaign will strengthen and amplify many components that define the University of Richmond experience. Top features of a Richmond education include:

• Richmond’s signature Richmond Guarantee program provides every undergraduate with up to $5,500 in funding for a paid summer experience, helping students pursue internships or faculty-mentored research that complements their academic interests.
• Richmond is need-blind in admission and meets 100% of demonstrated need for traditional undergraduates, underscoring the University’s commitment to access and affordability.
• Richmond’s residential campus is closely connected to the vibrant city of Richmond, giving students access to a metropolitan area with opportunities for experiential learning, cultural connection, and career advancement.
• Richmond’s small class sizes support close faculty mentorship and collaborative learning, helping students engage deeply in discussion-based courses.
• Richmond enrolls students across five schools — Arts & Sciences, Business, Leadership Studies, Law, and Professional & Continuing Studies — creating a broad array of opportunities within a close-knit university community.

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