Visionary Generosity At
Washington and Lee University , we proudly celebrate our Black alumni whose philanthropic contributions have influenced our institution’s future. Black Alumni Weekend is an opportunity for alumni to come together to recognize how their lives of consequence continue to shape W&L for the better.
We also celebrate the specific funds our Black alumni have established, creating transformative opportunities that enrich our entire academic community. Their visionary generosity and leadership drive positive change and underscore the profound impact inclusive philanthropy has on our university’s success.
Black Alumni Student Experience Fund
The Black Alumni Student Experience Fund allows undergraduate students to take advantage of high-impact, experiential learning opportunities they cannot otherwise afford as part of the full W&L experience.
This fundraising initiative totaled over $13,000. Just over $3,000 remains to support students in the coming years.
George Floyd Endowment for the OIE
The George Floyd Endowment for the Office of Inclusion and Engagement (OIE) supports Washington and Lee in solidarity with the nation’s colleges and universities to call for racial justice and to strive to make a positive impact on the world by supporting the students who will lead it. It is a permanently endowed university fund that provides income to support the OIE.
Alumni from the Class of 1974 to the Class of 2018 have invested in the endowment, demonstrating a shared commitment to civility and the pursuit of justice across generations.
This endowment has raised over $160,000 to date, supporting events like the MLK Day programming for the university and community during W&L’s 2023-2024 academic year.
Marjorie R. Poindexter Endowment
The Marjorie R. Poindexter Endowment is a permanently endowed fund providing support for students with unplanned expenses in times of unusual economic emergency or extraordinary need.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, this endowment supported three students in meeting unplanned needs, including covering the cost of an optometrist visit and prescription glasses, providing emergency travel funds for a student to return home due to a family death, and assisting an international student with the renewal of their United States Visa.
This fund totals $153,518 in gifts and pledges.
Other Funds Championing Diversity
The W&L Fund: Annual Giving for Diversity and Inclusion
The W&L Fund, formerly known as the Annual Fund, supports directed giving to various campus areas, including diversity and inclusion. These funds help attract and retain students, faculty and staff who bring myriad experiences, cultures, perspectives, interests and identities to our campus. Also, it is an immediate way to make a difference on campus, as the money goes to work right away to improve the student experience.
In FY24, donors to the W&L Fund who directed gifts to diversity and inclusion contributed $136,859 for the undergraduate program and $14,048 for the Law School.
The Office of Inclusion and
Engagement Endowment
The Office of Inclusion and Engagement Endowment was established to provide ongoing support for OIE at Washington and Lee, including programming, staffing and student resources. This endowment, along with the Class of 1994 Endowment for the Office of Inclusion and Engagement, fosters programs and initiatives that explore, promote and celebrate the increasingly varied backgrounds of our students, faculty and staff.
The Office of Inclusion and Engagement Endowment totals $131,157.
Honoring a Legacy: The DeLaney Center
The DeLaney Center is an academic hub committed to researching the racial issues, culture, and governing practices that have defined and continue to shape the U.S. South. Named in honor of the late history professor Theodore “Ted” Carter DeLaney Jr. ’85, the center inspires our students to think boldly across disciplines as they ask questions and seek answers that will meaningfully impact 21st-century challenges. Several funds have been established to support faculty, students, staff and programming in the DeLaney Center.
