Darden's Unrestricted Endowment has been key to the School's rise as one of the top business schools in the world. It gives the School flexibility to manage itself well, respond to pressing priorities, seize opportunities as they arise, recruit and retain talented faculty and staff, provide financial support for students and support the financing of facilities. For example, gifts to the Dean’s Innovation Fund give the dean capacity to respond to opportunities and challenges that fall outside of his annual budget. Significant donors to the Dean’s Innovation Fund will be consulted by the dean regarding the direction of the fund spending and will have the pleasure of seeing how their gifts (either current-use or endowed) are used to advance a specific priority of the Darden School. It is an enormously gratifying experience to know your gift was there when the School really needed it and to see how the School took advantage of an opportunity or overcame an obstacle because of your generosity.

A gift of $50,000 or more to the Unrestricted Endowment, such as the Dean’s Innovation Fund, or to unrestricted current use, such as the Darden Annual Fund, can be counted towards a naming opportunity for several beautiful facilities and spaces on campus. Naming opportunities include gathering spaces such as the South Lounge, the Pub, learning team rooms and others.  

For more information, contact the Office of Advancement at +1-434-924-6576.

Gatehouse Pavilion

$3 million

South Lounge

$2.5 million

Front Courtyard

$1 million

60-Seat Classroom

$1 million

Learning Team Rooms

$50,000

Learn more about giving opportunities for Annual Fund Giving & Unrestricted Funds.