Jefferson Trust 2022-2023 Annual Report

THE JEFFERSON TRUST funds new programs and projects that enhance the University of Virginia and enrich the student experience. Founded in 2006 by the UVA Alumni Association, the Trust is a donorled organization, providing UVA alumni, parents, and friends an opportunity to engage in and shape the institution’s future.

Every school, as well as many University organizations, centers and institutes have received funding. Any student, faculty, or staff member may apply, with grants typically ranging between $1,000 and $300,000.

VISION: To see every great idea at the University of Virginia come to fruition.

MISSION: To advance the University of Virginia and the student experience by connecting inspiring ideas with a dedicated and engaged group of donors.

BY THE NUMBERS

ALL-TIME

$12.9 million awarded to 315 programs and projects

100% of schools and most institutes and centers have received funding

THIS YEAR

$1.4 million awarded to 14 Annual Cycle grants

$96,350 awarded to 14 Flash Funding Cycle grants

Smallest grant: $1,522

Largest grant: $300,000

LEADERSHIP LETTERS

FROM THE CHAIR

Our first year of grantmaking was 2006. I was part of that inaugural Trustee class, and we awarded eight grants totaling just over $300,000. Now, as my second and final year as Chair comes to a close, I am amazed that we have nearly hit that funding mark through our largest ever single grant of $298,693 to Evaluating Collaboratory Cultures. Through both our Annual and Flash Funding cycles, we granted nearly $1.5 million to twenty-eight projects and programs.

Perhaps just as impactful as making our largest grant ever, we also made one of our smallest by dollar amount at $1,546 to Talking Trees, an initiative of UVA Sawmilling. In fact, half of the twenty-eight grants we made were less than $10,000 and made through our Flash Funding Cycle. This Cycle demonstrates our on-going commitment to small projects, their boundless potential, and the importance of investing in students.

As I look to the Trust’s future, I see a vibrant, growing organization with unlimited potential. The UVA Spirit is one of boundless optimism and with it comes an unending flow of ideas. These ideas will continue to shape our community in Charlottesville and around the globe.

I also believe in this Board of Trustees and its leaders. From our committee chairs to our new Chair, Alex Arriaga, and Vice Chair, Jenn Nisi, we are surrounded by visionaries who want to advance the Trust in service to the University. These dedicated alumni and parents are each shaping the organization through their knowledge, skills, and experience. The Trust is better for it, as is UVA.

In closing, thank you to the Trustees, grantees, and UVA administrators who have made the past two years so special. Whether directly or indirectly, I felt your support for what we have built together. I look forward to seeing what lies ahead.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Our shared vision is to see every great idea at the University of Virginia come to fruition. It is an endless horizon, but one that inspires us to grow our grantmaking and support the University community however we can. By connecting inspiring ideas with a dedicated and engaged group of donors, we can advance the University and enrich the student experience in a meaningful and dramatic way.

The gains that the Trust has made in its relatively short history are clear indicators that a highly aspirational vision is the right outlook. After another record-setting year in grantmaking (pages 6-11) and incredible grantee outcomes, there is no doubt that the Trust has had, is having, and will have a profound impact.

As we grow, we are determined to support funding requests high and low because the dollars are not synonymous with the idea’s strength. I often hear a gift or grant of a certain size described as “a drop in the ocean.” What I have come to find is that no matter the size, the ripples can be endless. This report’s expanded Impact section (pages 20-23) demonstrates how these ripples are continuing beyond what anyone could have predicted. The drive and boundless enthusiasm of our grantees amplifies our initial investment to create something even bigger.

Finally, I want to close with a thank you to Sharon Owlett and all our Trustees past and present. Their dedication and vision have built an impactful organization and legacy. Grants are our product, and our people and process are what make that product so special.

ANNUAL CYCLE GRANTS

The Annual Cycle is our largest grant cycle by funding amount, and requests vary from small, short-term projects to jumpstarting University initiatives. In 2023, nearly $1.4 million was granted to 14 new projects and programs, including our largest-ever single grant of nearly $300,000. Many of this year’s grants focused on sustainability, community engagement, and novel research.

Daniel S. Adler Student Award Printers 4 Kids: $30,000

This project is creating STEM kits for local Charlottesville schools from discarded electronic equipment and working to establish UVA’s first plastic recycling center.

Building Community with Architecture and Design at Biscuit Run Park:

$200,000

The School of Architecture, in partnership with Albemarle County Parks & Recreation, will provide students with experiences in the design, fabrication, and construction of several innovative installations and multi-functional spaces.

Wayne D. Cozart Global Award

C-ville Tulips: $150,000

Led by the Center for American English Language (CAELC) and the Sound Justice Lab, this program brings student volunteers together with local refugee women to support them in English instruction and digital literacy, as well as provide youth programming opportunities.

Evaluating Collaboratory Cultures:

$298,693

The School of Data Science will research collaboration and promote the findings to illustrate how more collaborative groups and cultures can be built across Grounds and throughout academia.

Virginia Baja Racing:

$25,000

Funding helps to reestablish the Virginia Baja Racing Team through the purchase of materials, parts, and equipment, enabling the team to compete in the Baja SAE event in May 2023.

OrChiD-Bio: Organs-on-a-chip with Integrated Detection of Bioluminescence:

$100,000

This research project aims to create a novel instrument that will detect bioluminescence in living cells embedded within organon-a-chip devices.

John B. Syer Award

Piloting an Open-source Educational Manufacturing Model: $49,900

Funding radically expands a STEM kit program from proof-ofconcept stages at Buford Middle School in Charlottesville to a national, open-source curriculum.

UVA Sawmilling: Fully Sustainable: $137,860

Funding helps UVA Sawmilling in purchasing equipment, enhancing programming, and supporting personnel to make the program a self-sustaining organization and expand its outreach.

[De]Construction Project: remapping the roles of design and implementation in the building industry: $136,550

Through a series of workshops that reimagine the construction industry, students will rethink the collaboration between the labor force, design process, and implementation.

Co-designing Circular Plastics Initiative:

$25,952

In collaboration with UVA’s recycling division, this project will repurpose recyclable plastics and film plastics into outdoor and indoor furniture.

UVA at Exhibit Columbus 2023: $35,000

Students will create a unique, sustainable architectural installation for Exhibit Columbus 2023 that will ultimately be displayed on Grounds for the UVA community.

1st UVA Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) Competition: $22,729

Funding will bring undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and construction practitioners of the UVA Construction Industry Consortium and UVA Facilities Management together to build community and share ideas through competitive events.

Including Preschoolers with Autism: $61,841

Funding will develop and pilot a 12-week professional development program for preschool teachers of children with autism spectrum disorder.

The Sports Science and Analytics Collective: $123,314

The collective blends research and practical application in sports, healthy living, and musculoskeletal health to accelerate efforts in research, collaboration, and student education.

FLASH FUNDING

Funding ideas in a flash is the goal of this Spring semester grant cycle. Grants of up to $10,000 are awarded on a month-to-month basis for short-term projects that are primarily student-led or focused. In 2023, $96,350 was awarded to fourteen new projects. Student experiences & events, research, collaboration, and educational opportunities were key themes of the spring.

Darden Emerging Markets Conference:

$10,000

International affinity clubs at Darden organized the inaugural Darden Emerging Markets Conference, bringing together thought leaders, professionals, academicians, and students to discuss business and growth opportunities and challenges in global emerging markets in a post-COVID world.

Laboratory for Citizen Education and Leadership:

$10,000

Funding provides student leaders across Grounds opportunities to engage and learn from mixed-reality simulations, to increase leaders’ understanding of and capacity for thoughtful and ethical community-engaged leadership.

Behavioral Science Across Grounds: $9,240

Funding helps to establish the first formal gathering of behavioral scientists across the University, providing an opportunity for improved collaborations, better training, engaging in strategic planning, and a greater sense of community.

Creating a

Cohesive

and

Coordinated

Food Union: Food Union Banquet: $3,200

The Food Union aims to integrate all the UVA Food-related CIOs and their goals of food-related work. This spring’s banquet brings together student leaders, University leadership, and community members to increase awareness about sustainable and just food systems and strengthen relationships.

Morven Student Days: $10,000

Morven Farms will be open to all students during Morven Student Days and will provide transportation to and from Grounds. Students can study, relax, learn, and explore Morven through unique programming opportunities.

Orgopoly: The Organic Chemistry Monopoly/ Gameboard: $1,522

A student-created game designed to review Organic Chemistry I and II, Orgopoly aims to innovate and enliven the process of studying chemistry.

Predicting Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at the Bedside: $3,187

A student research project to understand the connection between brain activity in premature infants and abnormal social development linked to autism.

The Virginia Undergraduate Investment Conference (VUIC): $10,000

The Virginia Finance Institute is hosting VUIC, a stock pitch conference, bringing students together from multiple universities to provide hands-on experience in equity analysis and investment skills; networking opportunities; and professional growth.

VLPP Prison Education Program: $10,000

In partnership with The Decarceration Clinic at UVA Law and Resilience Education, funding expands the Entrepreneurial Reentry Education Program model to include law school students in developing and teaching educational course materials for incarcerated learners.

Black Economic Empowerment Society (BEES): $9,734

Through a business development program, educational events, and community partnerships, BEES aims to increase financial literacy, emphasize the importance of asset ownership, and empower Black UVA students to start businesses.

{in}Visible Magazine: $3,170

Funding helps to launch the first literary publication at the University of Virginia dedicated to the Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American (APISAA) community on Grounds, creating a space for exploring and sharing unique experiences through writing and art.

Talking Trees: $1,546

With the purchase of a print press, a folio of wood prints is being created as a visual catalogue of the different species of trees from across Grounds, providing tangible education to UVA students.

America’s Disappearing Chinatowns: $5,250

This project aids in student research of Chinatowns around the US: exploring the emergence and endurance of Chinatowns within the larger global context and culminating in the creation of a book to document students’ observation and research.

UVA x Nocturnal Medicine: $9,500

In partnership with the nonprofit Nocturnal Medicine, the Student Association of Landscape Architecture and Design (SALAD) is planning an event in Fall 2023 concentrating on regeneration, focus, re-grounding, and building community among Architecture students.

TRUSTEES

Trustees are UVA alumni, parents, and friends who want to have a hands-on experience in giving. Trustees make all grant decisions and are responsible for the organization’s governance and strategic direction. They join from around the globe and span six decades of alumni. Their unique backgrounds and skillsets combine to form a board that is collegial, collaborative, and fun.

Engagement

Trustees engage with students, faculty, staff, and fellow Trustees to learn more about, and shape the University’s future. Trustees are part of the life of UVA, working together to make it an even better place.

Impact

A Trustee who joined this year is projected to be part of granting over $8 million across the Grounds. Each Trustee’s expertise is called on to help determine the best proposals to fund, and which will have the greatest impact.

Giving Commitment

Donors who make gifts or pledges of $150,000 or more (payable over five years) may serve a five-year Trustee term.

Time Commitment

Trustees have the opportunity, but are not required, to participate in three in-person meetings per year, serve on one or more committees and serve as a grant liaison.

Meetings: September, January, & April

Committees: Proposals, Outcomes, Engagement, Development, Finance & Governance

Trustees

Sharon M. Owlett, Chair, Law ‘75 Williamsburg, Virginia

M. Alexandra Arriaga, Vice-Chair, Col ‘87 Arlington, Virginia

Daniel S. Adler, Engr ‘88 Fairfax, Virginia

Daniel H. Benckart, Col ‘73 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Elizabeth A. Boutry, Col ‘92 Greenwich, Connecticut

Sarah F. Bridenhagen, Col ‘09 Palmyra, Virginia

Sarah R. Bridenhagen, Educ ‘80 Keswick, Virginia

George H. Brown, Col ‘19

Charlottesville, Virginia

Erin F. Burgoyne, Parent ‘16

James F. Burgoyne, Parent ‘16

Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Cameron B. Burn, Col ‘98

J. Duncan Burn, Darden ‘07

Denver, Colorado

Faith Lyons Burns, Com ‘16

John A. Burns, Col ‘14, ‘15 Washington, D.C.

Robert G. Byron, Col ‘73, Law ‘76 Glencoe, Illinois

Victoria Davis Chen, MD, Col ‘92

Stephen M. Chen, MD Richmond, Virginia

Michael S. Christopher, Com ‘00 Houston, Texas

Jonathan C. Clark, Col ‘81

Theresa Tierney Clark, Parent ‘22

Paradise Valley, Arizona

Alan C. Cline, Engr ‘94 Austin, Texas

Stefan H. Cushman, Col ‘92 Saint Petersburg, Florida

Anthony J. DiClemente, Com ’98

New York, New York

Molly McCarty Dunnington, Com ‘97

Charlottesville, Virginia

Douglas E. Eckert, Col ’87, Law ‘93

Mountain Brook, Alabama

Jocelyn S. Ege, Col ‘04

John A. Ege, Col ‘01

Englewood, Colorado

Lee R. Forker Jr., Darden ‘63

Hingham, Massachusetts

Carson H. Gibson, Com ‘16

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Frank R. Gough, III, Com ‘04

New York, New York

Sarah D. Graham, Engr ‘00

Jonathan C. Graham, Col ‘00

Winnetka, Illinois

Scott L. Gwilliam, Com ‘91

Evanston, Illinois

Stuart E. Houston

Ivy, Virginia

Melissa J. Hutson, Col ’98, Law ‘01

Darien, Connecticut

David A. Hyman, Col ’88, Law ‘93

Burlingame, California

William L. Kitchel, III, Col ‘81 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

William A. Lascara, Col ‘80 Virginia Beach, Virginia

Eric F. Leon, Col ‘90 New York, New York

Albert P. Lindemann, III, Col ‘84 Charlotte, North Carolina

A. Anne Lloyd, Col ‘05 Richmond, Virginia

Thomas B. Mangas, Col ‘90 Littleton, Colorado

Ashley Thompson Manning, Com ‘97 Englewood, Colorado

Steven A. Marks, Com ‘93 Fort Lauderdale, Florida

William A. Marr, Jr., Col ‘67 Charlottesville, Virginia

William C. Martin, Com ‘00 Rocky Hill, New Jersey

Jon E. Mattson, Com ‘90 New York, New York

Adrienne S. McCallister, Com ‘97 Austin, Texas

J. Nicholas Melton, Com ‘94 New York, New York

Carter S. Moore, Col ‘18 New York, New York

Ashlee A. Morningstar, Col ‘98 John E. Morningstar, Com ‘98 Greenwich, Connecticut

Jennifer R. Nisi, Engr ‘98 Poughkeepsie, New York

Lars R. Norell, Law ‘98 Old Greenwich, Connecticut

Caroline G. Ogburn, Col ‘15 Austin, Texas

Paul A. Pastor, Col ‘97 Miami Beach, Florida

William N. Pike, Engr ‘16 Dallas, Texas

Timothy J. Ranzetta, Com ‘89 Palo Alto, California

Jill F. Reid, Col ‘11

New York, New York

Neal R. Rudge, Col ‘86

Bangkok, Thailand

William C. Sanders, Jr., Parent ‘18

McLean, Virginia

Sarah C. Semegen, Col ‘06

San Francisco, California

Susan E. Singh, Nurs ‘05

Ramesh Singh, MD, Med ‘07

Herndon, Virginia

B. Hanson Slaughter, Com ‘94

Birmingham, Alabama

Rebecca B. Sperling, Col ‘93

John W. Sperling, MD, Col ’90, Med ‘94

Rochester, Minnesota

Lawrence D. Sperling, Col ‘81

Republic of Singapore

Holly M. Stancil, Col ‘96

Mark T. Stancil, Col ’96, Grad ’99, Law ‘99

Charlottesville, Virginia

Brian E. Stengel, Col ‘89

Faith S. Stengel, Parent ‘23

Greenwich, Connecticut

Marie G. Tybur, Col ‘97

James S. Tybur, Engr ‘97

Westport, Connecticut

David B. Wells, Com ‘93

Los Gatos, California

Lily E. West, Darden ‘12

Charlottesville, Virginia

Adrienne Woodard, Parent ‘08

Keith O. Woodard, Parent ‘08

Charlottesville, Virginia

Patricia B. Woodard, Nurs ‘69

Keith Woodard, Col ‘71, Darden ‘75

Charlottesville, Virginia

Sarah J. Zimmerman, Educ ‘90

Todd G. Zimmerman, Law ‘90

Greenwood, Virginia

Additional Donors

Andy Anderson

John Ayers

Donna Arehart & Gary Chovan

Alice Cary Brown

Cary Brown

Keo Brown

Renee Brown

Susanna Brown

The Honorable W. L. Lyons Brown

W.L. Lyons Brown III

Toan Duc Bui

Sean Callahan, MD

Mike & Mary Chinn

Allison Christopher

Drew Dunnington

Kathryn Eckert

Katherine Eslao

Laird Gough

Tim Guzi, PhD

Daniel Hinchman, Jr.

Tim & Cheryl Kitt

Wendy Leon

Dr. Linda Jean Love

Alexandra Marks

Deanne Maynard

Blake McCallister

Scott & Emily McLellan

Lysa & Paul Meurer

Barbara Mullen

Lynne Norell

Chuck Owlett

Brent & Erin Percival

Craig & Sara Perry

George Phillips, Jr.

Liz & Alex Pugatch

Bob & Mona Riordan

Christian & Sherrie Shield

Bill & Maura Starshak

Honour & John D. Thornton

John Webber

Steve & Susie Zimmerman

Bank of America Char. Gift Fund

Benevity on behalf of Google

Community Foundation of Greater Richmond

Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund

J.P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund

Morgan Stanley Global Impact

Performance Equity Management

Pike Enterprises, LLC

Roger S. Firestone Foundation

Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving

Susan C. Firestone Foundation

The Melville Foundation

The Pelican Foundation

Vanguard Charitable Endowment Prog.

W.L. Lyons Brown, Jr. Fund

“We are using our strengths to support ideas and innovations at UVA.”

-Alex Arriaga, Trustee and Vice Chair

NAMED GRANTS

Donors who commit $500,000 or more may create a named grant fund. Currently, these funds are all endowed and account for over ten percent of all grant endowment assets. These funds are broadly designated to solicit and support the best ideas from across Grounds.

Daniel S. Adler Student Award, est. 2016

As a former Lawn resident, resident advisor, First Year Seminar Leader, and Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Dan Adler, Eng. ’88 knows how powerful the UVA undergraduate experience can be. He often cites how his time on Grounds shaped who he is today. Through the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, he has both financially supported and mentored dozens of exceptional students. His named grant is an investment in great student ideas and the student experience.

Wayne D. Cozart Global Award, est. 2018

For four decades, Wayne Cozart served the UVA Alumni Association and the University in various roles. He spent eleven of those years as the Trust’s executive director before his retirement in 2020. Wayne believed in the Trust and its ability to support pan-University initiatives, such as global affairs. To honor him and recognize his contribution to the organization, multiple donors created this named grant, which has grown to over $1.5 million.

John B. Syer Award, est. 2019

Jack Syer, Col. ‘61 joined the Alumni Association in 1993 as its President and Chief Executive Officer. He helped rebuild the organization and its relationship to the University. Always looking to do more for his alma mater, he was a founder and the first executive director of the Jefferson Trust. Jack passed away in 2019 and his wife, Virginia, and family created this named grant to honor his memory and impact across Grounds.

Ashley Thompson Manning Health Innovation Award, est. 2022

Created just before the start of this fiscal year, the Award is designed to spark innovation and across Grounds collaboration in health. Mrs. Manning, Com. ‘97 has a personal interest in wellness and appreciation for the rapid increases in alternative therapies. This passion led her to see what UVA could do in this space, and the fund is designed to jumpstart novel research and treatments that will go on to secure additional external funding or be adopted into practice.

FINANCE

The Trust holds both grant and operating endowments. Divestments are 4-6% annually from each endowment’s average account balance over the previous twelve quarters. This ‘smoothed model’ provides stable and sustainable funding. Investments are managed by the University of Virginia Investment Management Company (UVIMCO) with accounting and gift processing services by the UVA Fund.

ENDOWMENTS

Grants

EXPENDITURES

Operations

 Flash Funding: 6.7%

 Named Grants: 10%

 Annual Cycle: 83.3%

 Special Events: 13.7%

 Administration: 23.2%

IMPACT

This year’s grants add to an impressive grant portfolio with an impact that reverberates across Grounds and around the globe. Often serving as seed funding, grants have scaled to become on-going programs, robust research enterprises, and pan-University initiatives.

GRANTS BY SCHOOL 2006-23

GRANTS BY TYPE 2006-23

32% Arts & Sciences

16% Architecture

12% Medicine

11% Education

11% Engineering

5% Nursing

3% Darden

3% Commerce

3% Law

2% Batten

1% Data Science

32% Student/Life Experience

18% Science/Technology

18% Arts

12% Pan University

11% Community Relations

5% Global

3%Faculty Excellence

1% Bricks & Mortar

Hoos Connected: 2018, $39,000

This program started as an idea and has grown to become an integral part of the student experience. Each year, 6-10 new, diverse students are grouped together, under the leadership of a trained upperclassman facilitator, to discuss and build connections. The pilot has scaled to sustainably support around 500 students each semester. Hoos Connected’s success in building student community has led seven other institutions to reach out about replicating the program.

Holsinger Portrait Project: 2022, $73,000

The project was established to create an exhibition, community engagement program, and digital humanities research effort around photographs of Charlottesville’s Black residents, taken over 100 years ago. Since opening in fall 2022, “Visions of Progress: Portraits of Dignity, Style, and Racial Uplift” has attracted hundreds of visitors and a sister exhibition at the Jefferson School of African American Heritage opened in February 2023, with more events in the works. The research and stories uncovered have received local, regional, and national publicity which, along with their website, has helped tell an almost forgotten story of Charlottesville’s past.

Infectious Disease in 3D: 2019, $99,945

Funding from the Trust created a program to build virtual reality and augmented reality content for teaching challenging concepts in UVA classrooms. The program brought high-profile speakers and learning opportunities to UVA, helping to spark more use of VR in education, as well as producing virtual reality environments that will be released publicly and used by communities to learn about different infectious disease topics. In addition, funding for an additional 3 years has been received from the National Science Foundation, and plans are being made to expand program outreach in the local area.

Cavalier Autonomous Racing: 2020, $50,000

The Cavalier Autonomous Racing Club at UVA launched in 2020, with Trust funding enabling the team to build, develop, and race an autonomous electric car. The team has gone on to race in multiple fully autonomous races, against international competition, and receive global media coverage for their accomplishments. “This has established UVA as an epicenter of autonomous racing research in the world and will catalyze the University to support bold initiatives in autonomous systems.” shared Program Director, Madhur Behl.

“The Jefferson Trust seed funding has been THE element that launched this now highly successful program, prior to our gaining support from any other sources. The Trust can legitimately take credit for a program that is helping to transform the undergraduate experience for students entering UVA.”

-Nicole Ruzek, Director of Counseling & Psychological Services and Co-Founder of Hoos Connected

Developing Future Leaders in Autism Healthcare Through Emergency Medical Training

Grant successes can be measured in many ways. For some, the ability to attract additional funding is a clear indicator of an idea’s scale, utility, and longevity.

98x 14x 5x

In 2020, the Trust granted $122,928 to a project titled ‘Transformative Autism Biomarker Research Initiative’ with a goal of studying babies in the NICU to detect early indicators of autism. Members of this research team went on to collaborate with others on Grounds and received a $12 million autism research grant in 2022.

The Climate Restoration Initiative received a $110,000 grant in 2021 to study technology and nature-based strategies for carbon removal. The project went on to receive a $1.55 million external grant, which according to the grant’s director and leader of the UVA Environmental Institute, Karen McGlathery, “… would not have been possible without the initial support of the Jefferson Trust…”

Last year, “Developing Future Leaders in Autism Healthcare Through Emergency Medical Training” received a $9,963 Flash Funding grant to develop and distribute Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) autism response training. “Jefferson Trust funding provided us the support we needed to secure additional funding, $50,000, through the iTHRIV Community Research Partnership program,” shared program director, Rose Nevill. This funding will allow the team to improve and expand their training, and share with other branches of emergency response (police, fire rescue, and 911 dispatch).

Mailing