OVERVIEW
When Thomas Jefferson began designing and building the University of Virginia, he gathered a “circle of friends” who were the University’s “subscribers, contributors, and founders.” This select group included James Madison and James Monroe, who were present to lay the cornerstone of Pavilion VII and who served on the University’s first Board of Visitors.
Jefferson’s Circle was formed to support the preservation of Jefferson’s architectural masterpiece: the Rotunda, pavilions and hotels, student rooms, and gardens that make up his Academical Village.
The University invites individuals, families, organizations, and corporations to become part of Jefferson’s Circle. Contributions may be in the form of cash, securities, planned gifts, or other appreciated assets. Matching gifts from an employer are credited to the donor and count toward membership.
Individual Lawn and Range rooms, hotels, alleys, and pavilions may be permanently sponsored, and permanent named endowments can be established or created in honor or memory of loved ones.
Members of Jefferson’s Circle provide a sound foundation for the University’s historic preservation programs. Their continuing generosity protects a landmark of international significance and ensures that the Jeffersonian buildings and grounds remain an integral part of University life for future generations.
WHY BECOME A MEMBER
Members of Jefferson’s Circle provide the means to:
- Continue the restoration of the Jeffersonian buildings and landscapes
- Organize educational and interpretive programs on the historic buildings and gardens
- Support documentary and on-site research and support to publish the findings
- Provide and conserve appropriate furnishings for the pavilions on the Lawn
- Promote public awareness of the historical and cultural significance of the Academical Village