Administration

Assistant Dean for Advancement Julia Allen Phone: 828/409-0775 (cell) Email: Advancement Associate Zai Cook Phone: 540/231-3929 Email: Director of Communications & Marketing Krista Timney Phone: 540/231-4160 Email: Digital Communications Manager Victoria Boatwright Phone: 540/589-7849 Email: Director of Alumni Relations Tanya Ridpath Phone: 540/231-2332 Email: Assistant Director for Leadership Gifts James H. Eddleton Phone: 540/231-8387 Email:

Annual Giving

The alumni participation rate is a university priority and Virginia Tech achieved the 22 percent alumni participation by the year 2022. Regardless of our opinions about national and international college rankings, they are a significant factor when students make admission decisions. The most often referenced ranking is that of U.S. News & World Report. They consider seven factors when determining rankings, and institutional alumni giving accounts for 5% of their metrics. Additionally, many corporate and foundation boards request alumni giving statistics as a part of their application materials. If alumni don’t find value in supporting their alma mater, why should others? FY24 20.45% FY23 17.84% FY22 17.64% FY21 15.84% FY20 11.39% FY19 13.82% FY18 10.73%

Giving Day

Each year, advancement teams for all Virginia Tech colleges and units come together for Giving Day, a 24-hour online fundraising challenge to rally alumni or friends and inspire donations. This includes dollar-for-dollar matches and participation challenges. The inaugural Giving Day was held in March 2018. The most recent Giving Day was held from noon on February 21 to noon on February 22, 2024. The College of Architecture, Arts, and Design had 1,152 donors out of a target of 800 giving \$203,616 out of a target of \$135,000.

Virginia Tech's Top Donors

The following are the top five gifts (outright or deferred) in the history of Virginia Tech:

  • Boeing
  • Innovation Campus
  • \$50,000,000
  • Fralin Family
  • VTC Biomedical Research Institute
  • \$50,000,000
  • Norris ’58 & Wendy Mitchell
  • Randolph Hall Replacement
  • \$35,000,000
  • Anonymous
  • Arts Initiative
  • \$30,000,000
  • Commonwealth Foundations
  • Goodwin Hall
  • \$25,000,000
  • Dave Calhoun
  • Honors College
  • \$25,000,000

New Gifts and Commitments to AAD

Since FY2018 the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design has secured \$58,875,825 in new gifts and commitments (through 6/26/2023) – the key fundraising metric used by colleges and units across the advancement division at Virginia Tech. New gifts and commitments are defined as pledges and outright gifts, as well as bequest intentions, realized bequests, deferred gifts, and gifts-in-kind. FY24 \$1,185,640.20 FY23 \$4,337,511.59 FY22 \$40,111,721.11 FY21 \$1,446,792.49 FY20 \$5,444,856.97

Boundless Impact Campaign

Virginia Tech launched an ambitious fundraising campaign in 2017 called “Boundless Impact.” This \$1.872 billion campaign is multi-faceted and will help grow multiple strategic areas that that are vital to Virginia Tech’s long-term success. Additionally, the campaign has a goal of engaging with 100,000 Hokie alumni in meaningful ways. The campaign is set to close on June 30, 2027, and as of June 2022 has raised more than \$1 billion. As of June 2023, the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design Advancement Team has raised \$69.4 million toward its \$90 million goal.

Existing Endowments and Funds

The college has 102 Active Endowment Funds in support of its students, faculty, staff, and programs. Of these, undergraduate student scholarships are the most common. Endowed funds by organizational heirarchy include:

  • AAD Dean’s Office / College level: 15
  • School of Architecture: 47
  • School of Design: 16
  • School of Performing Arts: 18
  • School of Visual Arts: 6

Stewardship

The College Advancement Team is responsible for the stewardship of past and current gifts, in collaboration with Donor Relations in the Central Advancement Division. All donors to the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design receive a personal acknowledgment for their gift. All donations of \$500 or less receive a postcard from Central Advancement as well as a handwritten Thank You from the program director. Donors that give between \$500 and \$1,000 receive an email from the assistant dean of advancement. Donors making gifts of \$1,000 or more receive a personalized letter from the dean. Program directors, the assistant dean of advancement, and the dean all receive a list of donors on a weekly basis. The College Advancement Team also handles appreciation letters for scholarship awards. These are requested from students to be mailed to donors along with a cover letter from the college. This process is still being developed but, if possible, we would prefer to personalize these letters with something specific to the program or student (a sketch from a landscape architecture student, a link to a performance for a theatre arts student, etc.). AAD is also planning a Celebration of Generosity dinner for October 2023 in alignment with the college’s Advisory Board meetings. This dinner will be held at The Inn at Virginia Tech and will acknowledge the gifts and commitments by AAD donors. We hope to have speakers and presentations of student work present as well as provide an opportunity for individuals to meet the new dean. The Advancement Associate also maintains the AAD Advancement Calendar. This is a calendar of all events that relate to the work being done by the AAD Advancement Team. Events relating to the university, including Chapters, Academic Calendars, and Homecoming; college, including DEI, IAWA, and school programs; advancement, including Alumni Engagement, Grad Fest, and Reunions; and professional, including AIA.

AAD Annual Funds

Each school, and many programs have designated funds which are held by the VTF. For AAD, the most commonly used annual funds include: 877030 College of Architecture, Arts, and Design Annual Scholarship Fund 881146 College of Architecture, Arts, and Design Annual Fund 887553 School of Architecture Annual Fund 877105 School of Architecture Annual Scholarship 878482 School of Architecture Annual Technology Support Fund 871228 School of Performing Arts Annual Fund 881331 Choral Music Program Annual Fund 875419 Virginia Tech String Project 881831 Marching Virginians Annual Fund 881373 Music Department Annual Fund 881379 Theatre Arts Department Annual Fund 878430 School of Performing Arts Annual Scholarship Fund 881315 School of Visual Arts Annual Fund 883271 School of Visual Arts Annual Scholarships 872080 Graphic Design Annual Fund 878428 School of Design Annual Fund 878427 School of Design Annual Scholarship Fund 871456 Industrial Design Department Annual Fund 879065 Industrial Design Scholarship Fund 881291 Interior Design Annual Fund 882374 Landscape Architecture Annual Fund 871160 WAAC (Washington Alexandria Architecture Center) 883329 International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA) Center 872731 Community Design Assistance Center 876363 Studio Collective