VMI alumni agencies report $30.5M in commitments and highlight Call to Duty fundraising

John Williams, president of the VMI Foundation Board and chair of the alumni agencies board, briefed the board on fundraising and alumni engagement through March 31 and provided an updated commitments total. He said commitments were $28.6 million through March 31 and that updated commitments totaled $30.5 million as of the day before the meeting. Donor participation was reported at 3,754.

Williams said the alumni agencies’ endowment stood in the neighborhood of $850 million (presented as the agencies’ endowment figure as of March 31) and noted year‑to‑date investment growth and disciplined stewardship by the foundation’s investment manager. He emphasized the concentration of giving — a small donor cohort accounts for a large portion of dollars — which mirrors national higher‑education fundraising trends.

The foundation highlighted the Call to Duty initiative (reported commitments $6.4 million; $3.2 million directed to the endowment and approximately $1 million for direct cadet support), which has delivered $3.1 million in direct cadet support since FY24 and is assisting 124 cadets this year. Williams and staff said campaign readiness work will continue; the board discussed need for expanded alumni outreach, more donor pipeline work, and targeted engagement with younger alumni and non‑alumni supporters.

Board members asked for more data on donor composition and retention; foundation staff said non‑alumni donors currently account for the majority of dollars on some initiatives and reiterated plans to expand stewardship and retention programs.