Giving

Unlocking Potential: VCU’s Campaign For The Future

At VCU Libraries, we believe in the potential within every student, scholar, researcher and community member. Unlocking Potential: VCU’s Campaign for the Future is a bold initiative to invest in that potential. VCU Libraries aspires to raise $5 million in the Unlocking Potential campaign with a focus on three student-centered priorities.

Affordable Course Content Initiative

Reducing financial pressure on students is a continuing priority for VCU Libraries. Since the launch of the Open and Affordable Course Content Initiative in 2017, VCU Libraries has saved thousands of students at least $12 million in textbook fees by encouraging the use of library-owned materials and funding the creation of open resources and the customization of existing content. “Open” content is copyright-free material available online. Much of this work—particularly the development and adaptation of Open Educational Resources—has been advanced through the Affordable Course Content Awards, a signature program housed under the broader Open and Affordable Course Content Initiative. VCU Libraries seeks to grow the Barbara Ford Endowment for Affordable Course Content for this initiative to $500,000.

Simply, this initiative provides access to free textbooks or reduced course materials that save students and their families hundreds of dollars each semester. Many of these materials are used repeatedly–with updates–over years. So, a onetime investment reaps greater impact over time.

The impact is intense. Free course materials increase the likelihood that students can succeed in their academic careers. The need is great. According to the 2025 VCU and Virginia Course Material Survey, nearly 80 percent of VCU students worry about money, are concerned about textbook costs, and say that they have not purchased a textbook due to the cost. These financial pressures have a clear effect on students’ academic performance and decision-making that can alter their academic progress and derail their future.

The Open and Affordable Course Content Initiative is VCU Libraries’ most significant effort in helping relieve students’ financial stress.

Friends Of VCU Libraries Scholarship Fund

With educational costs rising and student debt reaching historic levels, students need financial support more than ever.

Your support will help us to grow the Friends of VCU Libraries Scholarship to help more students with significant scholarships. Unlike typical scholarships, the Friends of VCU Libraries Scholarships supports one student on the Monroe Park Campus and one student from the MCV Campus, who is either a junior or a senior or a graduate student with a bachelor’s degree from VCU and a GPA of 2.5 or higher. This support helps our students–selected through a competitive process–get to the finish line in their academic journey. The Friends’ scholarship is unique in that it takes a holistic approach: The award can be applied not only to tuition but can be used for any financial need related to study at VCU, including books, housing, food and transportation.

Upgrades In Special Collections And Archives And The Book Arts Lab

The materials in Special Collections and Archives require special care and secure, climate controlled storage. Cabell Library has reached capacity for storage of unique and rare materials, and the Health Sciences Library on the MCV Campus regularly suffers water leaks and is scheduled for demolition in 2027. The plan is to expand Special Collections and Archives on the fourth floor of the Cabell Library and move all materials from Special Collections and Archives on the MCV Campus to Cabell for safe keeping.

In addition to expanding the footprint and storage capacity for Special Collections and Archives in Cabell Library, the vision for the space includes a Book Arts Lab.

Book art, also known as artists’ books, are works of art that are created to be handled and explored by the viewer. The medium references and uses the form of the book to convey meaning. Works can be made as unique objects, in limited editions, or in larger or open edition sizes. Book Art can employ many techniques, methods and approaches, such as hand binding, letterpress printing, digital printing, photography, printmaking, calligraphy and hand lettering, painting and drawing, graphic designing, paper engineering, automated/machine production and more.

With your support, VCU Libraries will continue to lead, inspire and empower future generations of learners and scholars.

Maximize your support

A gift to VCU Libraries supports every student, faculty member and the VCU community of scholars and researchers. Truly, nowhere else at VCU can a gift make such a significant impact on so many as a gift to VCU Libraries.

There are many ways to give to VCU Libraries and we can help you find the best way to ensure your gift has maximum impact.Gifts can be made outright or as pledges that are paid over a few years. In addition, VCU has a gift planning department that can provide advice on ways to leverage accumulated assets (securities, IRAs, bequests, etc.) to make an impactful gift while also meeting your financial needs. Contact Kelly Gotschalk, Senior Director of Development at (804) 827-1163 or kjgotschalk@vcu.edu and begin a conversation today.