There are so many ways to support the Wilder School. Direct your support to a variety of funds and initiatives.
To learn more, contact Stevan Dozier, director of development, at doziers2@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6205.
Student Support
Directly support current Wilder students in their academic pursuits.
The Wilder School General Scholarship Fund provides support to deserving students across all degree programs.
Established in 2020 by Robert D. Holsworth, Ph.D., the founding director the VCU Center for Public Policy and Wilder School. Dr. Holsworth also served as Dean of the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, the largest unit at the university, and was on the VCU Board of Visitors for two terms. Donations support graduate students pursuing program-related items, including coursework, a faculty-led or a faculty-sponsored student academic research project, professional development opportunities and internships.
This scholarship was founded in 2018 by Dr. Accordino’s family to honor his decades of service as faculty member, scholar, and dean as well as his commitment to improving the quality of life in American communities. The award is made to a graduate student or post-baccalaureate certificate students with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to improving the quality of life in American communities.
This scholarship was established in 2016 through gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Becker in memory of their daughter and Wilder School alumna, Karen Lynn Becker (MURP ’94). The scholarship is awarded to students with demonstrated need in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program.
Established in 2001 in memory of the school’s first director of public administration, this scholarship honors the legacy of Dr. Leigh E. Grosenick by supporting students. He founded the public administration program in 1975 and passed away in 1999.
This scholarship was established in 2018 by Thomas C. Burke, Jr. (B.S. in Elementary Education ‘79, MPA ’95) and Cathleen C. Burke to support a graduate student in Public Administration. Mr. Burke is a U.S. Army veteran and has served VCU in leadership development roles for 40 years. Mrs. Burke has led VCU human resources for 10 years. Both are dedicated to the commitment of VCU and public administration.
The Wilder Graduate Scholar Fellowship program is nationally recognized and the cornerstone of the Wilder School graduate student experience. The program showcases the exemplary programming of the school’s student services units and the extraordinary student body of our nationally ranked school of public affairs.
The Niraj Verma Student Assistance Fund provides emergency funds to deserving students to aid them in completing their degree programs in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
Programs Support
Give specifically to a program of study at the Wilder School.
Criminal justice students study the causes of crime, treatment of offenders and management of the criminal justice system, with a focus on balancing social justice and individual rights.
Launched as the nation’s first homeland security and emergency preparedness program in 2005, we prepare students to manage the complexities of disaster planning and response.
Support the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program
The public administration program equips students with skills in public management and policy analysis. Our graduates pursue careers at nonprofits and federal, state and local governments, as well as for-profit organizations that cooperate with the public sector.
The urban and regional studies and planning program allows students to pursue community engagement, experiential learning and service learning. Each of our students partner with community organizations through paid internships or client-based studio work.
Centers and Additional Support
Interested in a specific initiative or cause? Designate your gift to a center here.
The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute promotes the development of current and emerging leaders in academic institutions; public, private and nonprofit organizations; and in the community. Leadership programs are based on the principles of collaboration and partnerships and the institute researches and disseminates knowledge on the best practices in leadership.
Dr. Gulak was a professor at VCU for over 40 years and passed away in 2012. In 2013, his family created a fund for an annual lecture in urban and regional planning to honor his legacy. The public lecture features a visiting expert in urban and regional planning. During the pandemic, funds have supported a student project in lieu of hosting a lecture.
The Office of Research and Outreach is a multidisciplinary policy studies organization. Its divisions provide a wide variety of services, including professional and leadership training, public policy outreach, survey design and implementation, economic research and education policy analysis.
The Phoebe P. Hall Endowed HIGHER Ground Leadership Fund provides need-based scholarships for the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute HIGHER Ground Women’s Leadership Development Program and honoraria to engage high-profile speakers for the HIGHER Ground program and annual conference. The pledge was made in honor of Hall’s friendship with pioneering VCU administrator Grace E. Harris, Ph.D. (M.S.W.’60/SW), who died in February 2018.
The Research Institute for Social Equity (RISE) serves as a vehicle to advance racial equity and social justice through multidisciplinary scholarship, research, training and engagement. Its goal is to be the national leader in advancing social justice to inform public policy, governance and practice to improve conditions for marginalized voices within our society.
The RVA Eviction Lab focuses on meeting eviction data and research needs and supporting the work of local government, community-based organizations, elected officials, and other advocates. The RVA Eviction Lab takes the necessary deeper dives into the qualitative and quantitative aspects of evictions, making data public, reliable, and responsive to community needs.
Additional Ways to Give
There are a variety of ways to support the Wilder School.
To donate gifts of stock, please use the following information to make the transfer. Notify our development office and contact Christy Ferguson-Snead at SunTrust Bank prior to delivery by calling (804) 782-7787 or fax (804) 782-5858.
Client Name: VCUF Clearing Account
Account Number: 70313690
DTC Participant ID Number: 2039
FFC SunTrust Bank A/C: 11188
Consider supporting the Wilder School through estate or future gifts, such as bequests or gift annuities to ensure sustainable progress.
Your employer may match gifts you make to the Wilder School. Check with your employer’s human resources department to see if they provide a matching gifts program that may double your support.
See if your employer has a matching gifts program by checking the VCU matching gifts database.
If you are a VCU employee, please consider making your contribution automatically through your paycheck through the VCU Payroll Deduction website. You can select the amount and frequency of your support.