From the Nominator

Organized by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Development and Alumni Relations team, the Celebrating the Women of VCU Brunch is a signature Women’s History Month event designed to bring together current students, alumnae, faculty, staff, and friends of VCU for a morning of connection, professional development, and celebration. For the third annual brunch, the theme was "Spilling the Tea: Bold Women, Bold Leadership." The event featured an interactive career- and leadership-focused alumnae panel, complimentary professional headshots from an alumna photographer, the launch of the Women’s Impact Network (WIN), and a marketplace showcasing six alumna-owned businesses. With women representing the majority of VCU’s students, alumni, and donors, the brunch responds to research that show women prefer philanthropic engagement rooted in connection, shared learning, and community impact. The event grew from 75 registrants in 2023 to 196 in 2025, with a waitlist of about 25. The 2025 brunch was especially significant for the the public launch of the WIN, VCU’s emerging university-wide women’s philanthropy initiative. The event recruited 11 founding members of WIN and raised $14,421. With expanded attendance, increased student participation, and increased support from alumnae‑owned businesses, the brunch fostered mentorship and built a vibrant, intergenerational network of women committed to advancing VCU.

From the Judges

This was a wonderful idea that brought together women across the university community in a meaningful and celebratory way. The headshots, marketplace, and panel added smart layers of engagement, and the launch of the Women’s Impact Network gave the event real purpose. Judges saw it as a warm, inviting, and highly replicable model.