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Translation · idea → venture

The Jefferson Trust

Alumni money that funds an idea before anyone else will.

$17.8Mgranted since 2006
428grants awarded
<1 moto a Flash decision

Overview

An unrestricted endowment of the UVA Alumni Association, donor-led and independent of the University’s own budget. Since 2006 the Trust has put $16.9M into 297 major grants and, since 2019, $887,000 into 131 Flash Grants — the fastest unrestricted money on Grounds for a student, faculty or staff idea that does not yet fit anywhere else.

  • Major Cycle — $2,500 to $300,000, averaging about $57,000
  • Flash Grants — $175 to $10,000, decided in under a month with no deadline and no pitch
  • Two cycles a semester, fall and spring
  • Open to students, faculty, staff and University organizations in every school
  • About $1.7M awarded in 2026

Connected across the map

TranslationThe Foundry1,850 studentsTranslationE-Cup$100K · 3 stagesTranslationGalant Center2,000+ a yearThe SchoolsCollege of A&Smost students · no unitTranslationBatten i.Lab22 teams · 5 schoolsCapitalCAV AngelsUVA alumni network

More in Translation

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The Foundry1,850 studentsEnterprise Studio115 venturesBatten i.Lab22 teams · 5 schoolsGalant Center2,000+ a yearE-Cup$100K · 3 stagesCoulter Center25 startups · $1.4BManning SPARK6 × $50,000VentureForward~45 teams a yearRolls-Royce UTC1 of 3 in the U.S.Corporate Partnersevery school has themSolutions Labsin development