Author: Jefferson Trust Staff

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Jefferson Trust Flash Grants Focus on Student Learning

The Jefferson Trust has awarded $115,558 across 19 flash grants since January.

“We received 52 proposals in our January round and 64 in February; mostly from students. This volume speaks to the activity, engagement, and innovation of the UVA student body, as well as their drive to define their student experience”, says Brent Percival, Executive Director.

New student learning experiences are a key theme this year. Whether providing hands-on learning through the Prometheus Hybrid Rocket Motor Project, Hands-on Design Build, or Bits & Bytes to opportunities for professional development with the UVA Speaking Center and Caminos Brillantes Initiative, students at UVA are pursuing new ways to engage and learn.

Different than the Trust’s Annual Cycle grants, Flash Funding grants are capped at $10,000 per project and are awarded monthly beginning in January.

The 2025 Flash Grants:

Hypersonic ReEntry Deployable Glider Experiment (HEDGE): $10,000
Students in the School of Engineering will build and collect data on hypersonic reentry dynamics from a CubeSAT launch this summer at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.

Prometheus Hybrid Rocket Motor Project: $10,000
The UVA Rocketry team will design, manufacture, and fly a Student-Researched and Developed (SRAD) propulsion device, with plans to compete at the International Rocket Engineering Competition.

UVA Speaking Center: $9,020
The UVA Speaking Center is a resource to help UVA students become effective public speakers through individual consultations and workshops.

Caminos Brillantes Initiative: $3,479.59
Cultural Latinx Advancement for Resources and Opportunities (CLARO) provides professional development resources and opportunities through workshops.

Hands-on Design-Build: Constructing at Scale within the Curriculum: $9,000
Undergraduate Architecture students will construct a timber structure, gaining critical skills in timber building, construction detailing, and material sourcing.

Bits and Bytes: $9,735
This interdisciplinary course teaches the history of vampires in video games, learning the basics of programming and the history of vampires in this medium.

Striving Toward Academic Readiness (STAR): $9,969.40
UVA students are helping local underserved high school students demystify the college experience and build confidence through seminar-style classes, mentor sessions, and discussions.

Advancing BAPS and Associated Systems Engineering Projects at the University of Virginia: $7,000
Become a Problem-Solver (BAPS) seeks to apply systems engineering principles and problem-solving techniques to improve the operations of UVA service organizations.

Women’s Lifelong Wellness Initiative: $9,610
Students in the Department of Kinesiology are providing free, individualized health screenings, education, and lifestyle plans for women in the community to maintain a healthy lifestyle as they age.

Clean Plate Project: $4,040
Partnering with the Ronald McDonald House and the Yellow Door Foundation, this project hosts weekly cooking sessions and deliver meals to UVA Children’s Hospital patients and families.

UVA’s Inaugural Moot Court Competition: $9,000
Funding expands the UVA Law Moot Court and the American Moot Court resources to bolster interest and access in the UVA undergraduate community.

MKG 2025: Enabling Student Experimentation and Leadership: $1,572.69
Funding helps Morven Kitchen Garden increase farm production, community engagement, and student leadership opportunities through the expansion of gardening techniques and an improved compost system.

CavsCARE: CPR Training for Key UVA Groups: $6,000
UVA students who are CPR, AED, and First Aid certified trainers are volunteering their time to instruct and certify other students, expanding these lifesaving skills.

Biophilic Region Charlottesville and Albemarle County (CAC) Exhibition: $9,810
A team from the School of Architecture is working to establish central Virginia as a recognized Biophilic Region with abundant green spaces, integrated natural elements, support for biodiversity, sustainable urban practices, education, and community engagement. Funding helps publicly launch the project through an exhibition and community events.

This is Not a Debate Event Series: $3,161.95
This event series of student-led panels discusses issues in politics, ethics, and current events, designed to provide a model for productive political discussion.

Blossoming Chemistry: Beautifying the AXE Garden: $350
Presenting a living and learning experience in sustainability for students, funding helps rebuild a garden at the Alpha Chi Sigma house.

Chemistry Building Plants: $175
Bringing some biology into chemistry, this grant adds plants to work and study spaces in the Chemistry Building to make it a more comfortable space.

Dinners With Doctors: $2,904
From the Women in Medicine Initiative, the Dinners with Doctors series aims to connect students with women in medicine to build engagement, mentorship opportunities, and gain insights into the medical field.

50th Anniversary Concert: $730
Funding supports the Virginia Women’s Chorus 50th Anniversary Concert.

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February Flash Funding Continues!

We received 51 proposals requesting $386,613 in funding in the January Flash Funding cycle. Grant seeker’s innovative ideas and commitment to UVA continue to impress us!

If you missed January’s cycle, February Flash funding is open. Flash grants are capped at $10,000 and focus on short-term projects or immediate use opportunities, often for student organizations. Proposals must be submitted no later than February 28, with decisions announced on March 15.

For additional information, please visit our Grant Seekers page or contact Amy Bonner (abonner@virginia.edu) to discuss your idea and potential funding.

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Above & Beyond

Grant Endowment Donors

Making it to the major leagues in any sport is a colossal achievement. It could be said that each Trustee has done that in the field of alumni, giving their ‘time, talent, and treasure’ to advance UVA.

Every league also has its all-stars; people who aren’t just part of the game but also take part in defining it. As the Trust grows, donor-created grant endowments are our path to increase fundraising and grantmaking impact. The donors who fund them are our all-stars.

Grant Endowments are designated and named accounts that fund an annual grant in perpetuity. Just as a scholarship endowment is created to support the best student in a chosen area, a grant endowment funds the best ideas in the same.

The Trust has an unparalleled ability to find and fund the best program and project ideas across Grounds. Channeling that ability into a donor’s area of interest can have an outsized impact; particularly in pan-University disciplines where budgeting can be tricky.

Grant endowments currently exist in areas such as global affairs, health innovation, and the student experience. Others are just getting started – and growing.

Once a donor signs up to create an endowment, each dollar he/she gives is invested with UVIMCO. So, whether the fund is fully endowed right away or years down the line, the funds grow and so does the size of their future impact.

A special thank you to our grant endowment donors:

  • Dan Adler
  • John & Jane Bradshaw
  • Ross & Laird Gough
  • Ashley Manning
  • Jenn & John Nisi
  • Sharon & Chuck Owlett
  • Brent & Erin Percival
  • Parker Schell
  • Hanson & Melissa Slaughter
  • Virginia Syer
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Grants in the News

Arctic Design Group in Alaska
Arctic Design Group in Alaska. Credit: Joyce Fong.

Our grantees are always working! Catch up on grant projects recently featured in the news:

  • Our new 2025 Annual Grants were highlighted in The Daily Progress, as well as an in-depth feature on the new Criminal Justice Data Training Initiative from the School of Data Science.
  • Smiles & Spatulas aims to empower local adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, teaching them kitchen safety, basic cooking, and general nutrition. Check out the program in this NBC29 feature.
  • Nursing Narratives was awarded a grant in 2024 to add a recurring editorial section to “Virginia Nursing Legacy,” the School of Nursing’s quarterly magazine. Read essays from their winter edition.
  • Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering Bryan Berger is studying the effects of PFAS chemicals—Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances—in food and farming communities. Check out his interview with UVA Today and NBC29 News to learn more about his continued research. Berger received a Trust grant in 2022, and his team’s preliminary data and published papers from this initial research has assisted in securing additional funding from the EPA.
  • The Arctic Design Group received a Trust grant in 2014. Learn how students have been impacted by their research and experiences in the Arctic in this UVA Today feature.
  • The Trust was an early supporter of the Cavalier Autonomous Racing team. They recently competed in a 4-car robot race at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Check out UVA Engineering’s race day coverage.
  • Cville Tulips received a Trust grant in 2022; read about their continued growth and impact in How Cville Tulips Helps Refugee Women and Children Bloom.
  • Give the Gift That Grew on Grounds highlights the work and products of UVA Sawmilling, which received grants from the Trust in 2023 and 2021.
  • Check out in{Visible} Magazine’s latest issue, “Fate on the Wind”. in{Visible} received a flash grant in 2023 to launch the first literary publication at UVA dedicated to the Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American (APISAA) community on Grounds.
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Nearly $1.5 million awarded in Annual Cycle

The Jefferson Trust Board of Trustees has awarded nearly $1.5 million to 17 new projects and programs across the University of Virginia.

Student experiences, enhancing student learning through internship and research opportunities, and community outreach were key grant themes this year.

“Only the Jefferson Trust and its Trustees can fund a concert series and a dark matter telescope in a single afternoon. Project diversity is a hallmark of this organization, and it is thrilling to see how each shapes the University and student experience over time” says Brent Percival, Executive Director of the Jefferson Trust.

The 2024-25 Grants:

Undergraduate Composers Concert & Performance Series: $33,415

Funding helps create a concert series featuring performances of original music by student composers.

Possibilities in Pulp: Reusing Paper Waste on Grounds: $15,000

This project aims to reduce paper waste at the School of Architecture by further developing and testing paper pulp manufacturing techniques, and piloting strategies for scaling this process for long-term use.

Virginia Student Film Festival: $30,000

A two-day student film festival will showcase undergraduate filmmakers across Virginia. Programming will include screenings, networking events, and panel discussions with industry professionals.

Dark Matter Radio Telescope at UVA’s Fan Mountain Observatory: $249,850

The Astronomy Department will purchase and install a fully steerable DSA-2000 radio telescope, increasing student training and research opportunities.

Simulated Lunar Surface Arena for Robotics Testing: $86,000

The Mechatronics and Robotics Society (MARS) is building a simulated lunar surface arena to test lunar robots and better compete in NASA’s Lunabotics competitions.

Office of the Architect for the University Student Internship Initiative: $70,000

This three-year pilot engages students in the University’s variety of design and planning projects and provides access to mentorship and internship opportunities.

VLPP Education Program: $70,000

In partnership with The Decarceration Clinic at UVA Law and Resilience Education, funding expands the Entrepreneurial Reentry Education Program model to include UVA’s first legal studies course, designed for incarcerated learners, and developed and taught by UVA law school students.

Criminal Justice Data Training Center: $78,594

Funding establishes a new Criminal Justice Data Training Center in the School of Data Science, which will train students in data analytics of the criminal justice system and support them as community partners.

Daniel S. Adler Student Award
Sound on Grounds: Student Podcast Production and Distribution Team: $83,500

This project aims to increase students’ knowledge of and access to podcasting resources at UVA and support their creative development.

Cyber Systems and Operations: $30,000

This speaker series brings industry experts to the classroom, exposing students to real-world insights and experiences, enhancing their critical thinking, and preparing them for careers in cybersecurity.

Equitable Healthcare Access: Evidence-based Concussion Management for UVA Students: $297,191

The Sports as a Laboratory Assessment Model (SLAM) will be implemented within Student Health & Wellness to improve outcomes through equitable access to clinical care for UVA students with a concussion.

Ashley Thompson Manning Health Innovation Award
Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Young Children in Virginia: $80,000

Funding helps to develop a flagship clinic to increase access to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy by training UVA psychologists, graduate students, and community therapists, reaching more parents and children in need in underserved areas.

John B. Syer Award
STREAM Ambassadors Expansion: $60,000

Funding expands the Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math (STREAM) Ambassadors program at UVA Wise, involving students and local youth through new workshops, camps, and speaker series.

Increasing Local Non-Profit Community Impact with UVA Student Internship to Improve Data Collection: $76,350

An initiative of the UVA Statistics Department, this project supports student interns’ work in data collection, analysis, & interpretation strategies for local non-profits.

Wayne D. Cozart Global Award
Safeguarding Science: Developing Knowledge and Tools to Prevent Scientific Fraud: $86,987

A taxonomy of scientific fraud is being developed to identify types of wrongdoing, involved organizations and their motivations, then engineering tools and methods to address the problems.

The Fried Center for Advancement of Potential (FCAP) Intern Training Program at Student Health and Wellness: $104,162

This project provides internship opportunities and experiential learning for undergraduate students pursuing healthcare careers and affordable functional exercise intervention for students in need of care.

Jefferson Engineering Lectureship at UVA: $30,000

A lecture series will bring experts in the fields of data science, healthcare, and environmental sciences to UVA, exposing engineering students and faculty to pioneering research ideas and interdisciplinary innovation.

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Grant Requests Aim High

UVA grant seekers, thank you! The Trust received 93 Letters of Inquiry (LOI) requesting $9.6 million in our annual grant cycle. Forty-seven of these requests, seeking $5.78 million, have moved forward to the full proposal stage.

Submissions cover a wide variety of topics, including mental health, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cutting-edge research. Proposals were received from twelve student groups, almost every school, and a variety of University-related organizations.

Our Proposals Committee has started reviewing the proposals in advance of the final round, which is an in-person pitch. The Trustees will look to grant $1.6 million this year across all funding cycles.

If you missed the annual cycle deadline, the January 2025 Flash Grant Cycle opens January 1. Flash Funding grants are capped at $10,000 and focus on short-term projects or immediate use opportunities, often for student organizations. Flash Funding runs in the spring semester, and grants are made on a month-to-month basis as long as funds are available. Visit our Grant Seekers page for more information.

As always, we are available to discuss your potential project and answer any funding questions. Contact our Director of Grants, Amy Bonner, for more information.

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Rotunda Planetarium Open House is back!

The Rotunda Planetarium's Open House in 2022

Back for one night only, make plans to view the constellations and stars in the Rotunda Dome Room on Friday, November 29, 5:30–8:30 p.m.! This event is free and open to the community, and will feature special music from the Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia and a visit from historical actor-interpreter Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson.

In the summer of 1818, Thomas Jefferson envisioned a painted planetarium, spanning the Rotunda’s dome. “It is proposed to be painted sky-blue and spangled with gilt stars in their position and magnitude copied exactly,” he wrote. Fast-forward to 2019, and three UVA doctoral students worked to bring Jefferson’s vision to life. They received a Trust grant to purchase the equipment to “open the ceiling to the stars” and host an exhibition on the Rotunda Library’s early years.

We hope to see you on the 29th!

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Grants in the News

Undergrad students participate in a week-long summer Social Entrepreneurship Bootcamp.

Our grantees have been busy! Catch up on projects recently featured in the news:

  • The MADAYIN exhibition opened at the Asia Society Museum in New York City in September. This exhibit is in partnership with UVA’s Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum, and the Trust was a supporter of the accompanying exhibition catalogue created with the exhibit. MADAYIN is on display in NYC until January 5, 2025; we strongly recommend viewing! More information and features from the Asia Society and National Indigenous Times.
  • The Cavalier Autonomous Racing team competed at the Indy Autonomous Challenge in September and won the time trial competition (with record setting speed)! See more in this UVA Today article and video feature in UVA Today. The Trust was an early supporter of Cavalier Autonomous in 2020.
  • A group of students participated this summer in a Social Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, designed for budding social entrepreneurs. Read about one student’s experience in HER Campus. This ChangeMaker Bootcamp was a 2024 grant recipient.
  • Nursing Narratives received an annual grant this year to add a recurring editorial section to both print and digital versions of “Virginia Nursing Legacy,” the School of Nursing’s quarterly magazine. Read essays from their summer edition.
  • The Air Force ROTC received a flash grant this spring to increase virtual reality flight simulator training for cadets. Hear about their experiences in this CBS19 News feature.
  • UVA’s first Escape Room Tournament occurred in September. A 2024 flash recipient, learn more in this CBS19 feature.
  • Associate Professor Bryan Berger received a $93,000 Trust grant in 2022 to lead undergraduate students in research and training of industrial hemp as a tool for phytoremediation of PFAS-polluted agricultural soils. The team recently received a $1.59 million grant from the EPA to continue and expand their research! Learn more from the Maine Morning Star and EPA. Bryan shared, “None of this would have been possible without the grant you funded—thank you so much! The preliminary data and papers we published were the key to this opportunity. Really appreciate it and I think what you are doing is so important for UVA—it allows us to take risk on new ideas, build partnerships and take on big challenges in communities we otherwise wouldn’t have the means to do.”
  • The Trust awarded a team of professors and researchers $133,000 in 2022 for “Optimizing pediatric donor heart utilization” using big data analytics to optimize pediatric heart transplants by analyzing data sets from the United Network of Organ Sharing to help improve clinical practice and create predictive modeling to assess specific donors for specific candidates. They have received an additional $1.03 million in funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This additional five-years of funding will aid in their research and testing efforts.
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Funding University Priorities: Supporting First Generation Students

Roadmap Scholars participate in their summer cohort on Grounds.

This article is third in a series on Trust grants that directly support University priorities.

Each Trust grant funds a new idea. Some of these ideas are in areas of particular importance to the President or Provost. ‘University priorities’ are not permanent but rather time-bound areas of focus where administrators put additional resources toward advancing UVA. Trust support can play a unique role in jumpstarting a project or program toward having an immediate impact.

First-generation college students face many challenges, as organizations such as Pew Research have cited. UVA has developed both financial and programmatic resources for first-generation students and students from low-income families.

Many on the programmatic side, collectively known as ‘Hoos First’,  are Trust grant recipients, such as:

  • Hoos First Look is an enrichment program for juniors in high school to better understand the college-application process, financial aid/scholarships, and student life at UVA. This student-led initiative received $10,479.25 in 2018 from the Trust.
  • FLIP at UVA aims to create and advocate for a community of first generation and low-income students. It started in 2020 with a $14,161 grant and is an on-going part of the UVA culture.
  • Starr Hill Pathways middle- and high-school scholars are given the opportunity to explore different career pathways through summer camps and school-year programming days with community partner organizations. The program was kickstarted with a $150,000 grant in 2022.
  • Roadmap Scholars Initiative began with a $200,000 grant in 2022 to build a pipeline for undergraduate students from every background into the legal profession. Students receive an intro to the legal profession, LSAT prep, and internship support.

These are just a few of the ways the Trust has enriched the patchwork of UVA, strengthened the community, and supported University priorities.

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2024–25 Annual Cycle Open Now

What is your new, radical idea that will advance UVA and enrich the student experience? We want to hear it in our 2024–25 Annual Cycle, open now!

Proposals can come from students, faculty, and staff for an array of new programs and projects—everything from starting a new student group to supporting an innovative research project to seeding a University initiative. The Annual Cycle grants typically range from $10,000 to over $300,000, but there are no minimums and maximums vary based on available funds.

Key dates:

  • Now: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) forms are available in the grant portal and can be submitted today. LOIs submitted before September 1 may be invited to edit and resubmit.
  • October 1: Last day to submit a finalized LOI. From there, selected LOIs move to the proposal stage.
  • October 31: Proposal deadline. Decisions are made in December, with possible invitation to the next stage.
  • January 2025: Proposal pitches.
  • February 2025: Grants awarded.

Get started today. You may preview the LOI or Annual Cycle Proposal forms, and when you’re ready to submit your LOI, log on to our Grant Portal. Questions? Contact our Director of Grants, Amy Bonner.