Please make your check payable to Virginia Theological Seminary and mail to:
Office of Institutional Advancement
Virginia Theological Seminary
3737 Seminary Road
Alexandria, VA 22304
Any check dated and postmarked on or before December 31 will be acknowledged as a contribution for that year.
Some employers will match charitable gifts to leverage the impact of your donation. Please follow your employer’s instructions for securing a match. If you are unsure whether your employer will match your gift, please contact your HR department.
Credit card gifts can be made HERE. Any transaction completed on or before December 31 will be acknowledged as a contribution for that year. Our online giving is monitored daily, even when the Seminary is closed.
Over the years a special tradition has evolved as individuals have contributed to Virginia Seminary in memory of particular individuals, such as a beloved family member, a revered professor or a devoted pastor. Many gifts have also been made in honor of an individual’s current ministry. Contributors of Memorial and Honor Gifts to Virginia Theological Seminary are recognized in The Annual Report for each fiscal year and honored as members of the Seminary’s Giving Societies.
If you would like to receive a card acknowledging your gift made in honor or in memoriam, please contact Jennifer Wade Greiner.
To make a gift of business interest, real estate, or other asset, please contact Vice President for Institutional Advancement Linda L. Dienno at (703) 461-1717, or by email at ldienno@vts.edu.
All gifts are accepted in accordance with Virginia Theological Seminary’s gift acceptance policies.
To make a gift of stock or other securities, please contact Comptroller Olivine Pilling at 1(800) 941-0083 or (703) 461-1709 for appropriate instructions for the transfer of securities and to ensure that your gift is appropriately credited.
Planned Giving
Ways to Name Virginia Seminary as a Beneficiary
Making unrestricted outright bequest. In making such a gift, you may designate either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to Virginia Seminary.
Naming the Seminary as a remainder beneficiary. In this case, the Seminary will only receive funds after specific sums have been paid to other designated beneficiaries.
Making a contingent bequest which will provide for the distribution of assets to Virginia Seminary only if one or more of your named beneficiaries does not survive you.
Suggested Language for Including a Bequest to Virginia Seminary in Your Will
For an Unrestricted Bequest:
I give and bequeath to the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia ($__________) or (__________% of the residue of my estate) to be added to the General Endowment Fund of the Seminary.
For a Specified Bequest:
I give and bequeath to the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia ($____________) or (____________% of the residue of my estate), the income to be used only for the following purpose: (state purpose). If, in the future, it is in the opinion of the Dean and President, with the concurrence of the Board of Trustees, that all or part of the income of this fund cannot be usefully applied to such purpose, the Seminary may use the same for any purpose that will most nearly accomplish my wishes.
For a Contingent Bequest:
In the event that any of the beneficiaries named herein (in my will) predeceases me (or predeceases me leaving no heirs), I leave the rest and residue of my estate to the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, to be added to the General Endowment Fund of the Seminary.
Individuals who inform us that they have made a provision for Virginia Theological Seminary in their will or trust are recognized in The Annual Report for each fiscal year and honored as Members of the Seminary’s 2023 Legacy Society.
We would be pleased to discuss any of these opportunities with you and your counsel. For additional information, please contact Vice President for Institutional Advancement Linda L. Dienno at 703-461-1717, or by email at ldienno@vts.edu.
VTS offers several methods by which you can transfer capital to the Seminary but retain the income from the asset for your lifetime and/or the lifetime of your spouse or another person. Working through the Episcopal Church Foundation, you can fund a Charitable Gift Annuity arrangement, whereby you transfer capital and receive a guaranteed fixed income each year, paid quarterly. For larger gifts, you can establish separate Charitable Trusts which will pay you either an annuity or percentage amount.
The advantages vary according to your circumstance and objectives, but all the plans at Virginia Theological Seminary offer you the following benefits:
- Annual Income for yourself and/or another beneficiary.
- Immediate federal income tax deduction.
- Avoidance of a capital gains tax when giving appreciated property.
- Investment Diversification.
- Estate tax savings.
When the last income beneficiary dies, the principal is transferred to the Seminary for a purpose of your choosing.
We would be pleased to discuss any of these giving opportunities with you and your counsel. For additional information, please contact Vice President for Institutional Advancement Linda L. Dienno at 703-461-1717, or by email at ldienno@vts.edu.
Congress made permanent the law that allows people age 70½ or older who own an IRA to make cash gifts directly from their IRA to charity. An IRA rollover gift will not be included in your taxable income and will qualify for your required minimum distribution. To make a charitable IRA rollover gift, please contact the company that your individual IRA investments are with and request a distribution from the IRA custodian directly to VTS and ensure no withholding is being taken from the qualified charitable distribution (QCD).
A gift of life insurance can provide a significant year-end charitable deduction. You could purchase a new policy or donate a policy that you currently own but no longer need. To receive a deduction, designate VTS as both the owner and beneficiary of the life insurance policy. Check with your insurance agent for details.
Special Giving Opportunities
The Seminary has several endowments to fund special purposes or ministries.
Over the years, generous friends of the Seminary have made outright contributions or bequests that have established endowments to fund special purposes or ministries. Many others have made gifts over the years to support the objectives of these endowments or special purpose funds. A few of these funds are highlighted as Special Giving Opportunities and Program Endowments, reflecting some current needs and priorities of the Seminary.
Contributions in the amount of $50,000 or higher for a particular purpose will be recognized as a Named Endowment Fund, while contributions or bequests under $50,000 for student financial assistance are administered as part of the Seminary’s General Scholarship Fund for Students until such time as additional contributions to that fund reach $50,000.
The Seminary maintains a General Endowment Fund that supports the ongoing operations and ministry of the Seminary. Undesignated contributions and bequests are added to the General Endowment Fund.
To contribute to an endowment fund or participate in an endowment program, contact Linda Dienno.
If you are interested in participating in one of the giving societies, please contact Linda Dienno: ldienno@vts.edu
2023 Legacy Society
*The Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Society
*Gifts of $100,000 and over
Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church and gave unselfishly to its activities with the intent of fostering religion and education and relieving and comforting the underprivileged and the afflicted. Mrs. Evans was known for her concern for others and a genuine benevolent spirit.
The Armistead L. Boothe Society
Gifts of $50,000 to $99,999
This society honors a long-time friend of VTS, a former director of development, and a member of the Board of Trustees. Armistead or Army (as he was known to family and friends), lived a rich and full life from 1907 — 1990. In his lifetime, he forged rich relationships for VTS and raised countless dollars in gifts. From his own treasure, he donated more than $135,000 to VTS. Upon his death, a bequest from his estate coupled with gifts from family and friends, created The Armistead L. Boothe Grant for Scholarships for Study in Israel (Holy Land Fund).
The Bishop William Meade Society
Gifts of $25,000 to $49,999
This society’s namesake was the third bishop of Virginia, and one of the founders of Virginia Theological Seminary. Bishop Meade was Chariman of the Board of Trustees for VTS from 1842-1862.**
The Dean’s Society**
Gifts of $10,000 to $24,999
Strong leadership is vital to the continued excellence of any institution. Equally important is the financial leadership provided by members of this society.
The Henry St. George Tucker Society
Gifts of $5,000 to $9,999
This society’s namesake graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1899 and went on to become a professor at this seminary, as well as Bishop of Kyoto, Bishop of Virginia, and Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The gifts given by members of this society ensure that Bishop Tucker’s example may be followed by future generations of Virginia Seminary graduates.
The William Sparrow Society
Gifts of $2,500 to $4,999
“Seek the Truth, Come Whence it May, Cost What it Will”
William Sparrow was a member of the faculty from 1841 to 1874 and Dean of the Seminary from 1868 to 1874. Gifts are given by members of this society help ensure that the inspiration of Dean Sparrow’s immortal words over a century ago will inspire faculty, students, and graduates of the Seminary for ages to come.
The Aspinwall Tower Society
Gifts of $1000 to $2,499
A generous gift from William and John Aspinwall funded the building that housed the Seminary’s classrooms for generations. Members of the society that bears their name exemplify the brothers’ commitment to excellence in theological education.
This Mission Society
Gifts of $500 to $999
The Mission Society was born out of consideration for the words that were in the 1881 Chapel and that live anew over the West Transept in the Immanuel Chapel: “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel” as our call to mission and action.
The Seminary Hill Society
Gifts of $150 to $499