As the University concluded its successful $1 billion campaign in 2000, a few prescient College alumni began to look ahead. Christine P. Gustafson (International Business and Finance ’82) was one of them. “We had helped the College surpass its campaign goal, but there were many funding priorities still unmet.

We saw the need for a formal fundraising entity—a nonprofit foundation—to which donors could give with confidence
, certain their money would go where they wanted it.” - Christine Gustafson

With a major source of private funds in place, the College could take a seat at the University’s planning table and chart its own course for the future. Gustafson, along with fellow alumni John L. Nau III (History ’68) and Alan Y. Roberts (English ’64), obtained approval for and ultimately established the College Foundation of the University of Virginia at a festive ceremony on April 20, 2001. Roberts and Gustafson co-wrote the foundation’s bylaws and served as the first two presidents.

The Foundation’s trustees serve on various committees, including development, finance and investment, audit, donor relations, and marketing and media. From time to time, trustees serve on Unversity task forces or on search committees for senior administrative positions in the College. Many have hosted events that bring the College dean and faculty in contact with alumni around the country.