Building a Student Philanthropy Pipeline: From Fellows to Future Donors
What does it take to build a student giving culture that students actually believe in? This session highlights how the University of Richmond is reenergizing student philanthropy by giving students real ownership and a clear pathway to lead. We’ll walk through our Junior Legacy Fellows (JLF) and Senior Legacy Campaign (SLC) model, a two step approach that builds confidence, develops leaders, and creates momentum students are genuinely excited about. You’ll see how juniors get hands-on experience with fundraising and event planning, how seniors take the lead on major traditions, and how this structure is beginning to shift the culture around giving on our campus. We’ll share what’s worked, what’s surprised us, and why several institutions have already asked to learn from our model. With live polling, breakout conversations, and practical tools you can bring back to your team, this session is designed to spark ideas and offer a clear, realistic framework for campuses looking to strengthen student engagement and build lasting philanthropic traditions.