William & Mary Law School Foundation Board of Trustees, 2026-2027

Mission

Enable William & Mary Law School to achieve its strategic goals and, in doing so, remain a recognized leader in legal education through identification, cultivation and oversight of financial resources and collaboration with other William & Mary Law School stakeholders.

Vision

Provide transformational leadership and resources to empower William & Mary Law School as a premier national law school and recognized leader in legal education.

History

Established in 1982 at the encouragement of Dean William B. Spong, Jr., the William & Mary Law School Foundation, formerly, The Marshall-Wythe School of Law  Foundation  was  created  to  support  and benefit William & Mary Law School. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Foundation and has fiduciary responsibility for the management, investment, and disposition of the Foundation’s assets. The Foundation’s work ensures the long-term advancement of the Law School through the solicitation and development of gifts.

The primary purposes of the Foundation Board are to:

1. Maintain the Foundation’s fiscal integrity, preserve and protect its assets, and provide financial oversight.
2. Collaborate with law advancement to increase financial support and opportunities.
3. Recommend the use of the Foundation’s assets in an advisory or strategic fiduciary capacity for the Dean or staff to approve and implement.

Committees

The Foundation has five (5) committees and, from time to time based on necessity, several Working Groups to complete short-term project(s) or initiatives:

1. Audit Committee, in conjunction with the Foundation’s Controller, identifies the entity to conduct the annual audit of the books of the Foundation, assists in determining the scope of the audit, meets with the auditors as necessary, reviews the completed audit, reports its results to the Board, and helps respond to any areas of concern it identifies.
2. Development Committee, in conjunction with the CEO / Associate Dean for Advancement, coordinates the fundraising activities of the Foundation.
3. Governance & Strategic Planning Committee, in conjunction with the CEO / Associate Dean for Advancement, monitors the implementation of and recommends amendments to the Board’s governing documents and strategic plan. 
4. Investment Committee, in conjunction with a staff member of the 1693 Management Company, oversees the Foundation’s investments, provides a liaison to 1693 Partner’s Fund to ensure effective communication between it and the Foundation about investment policy and asset allocation, and reports to the Board the status of all such investments.
5. Nominating Committee, in conjunction with the CEO / Associate Dean for Advancement, prepares a slate of candidates for vacancies among the Trustees and Officers of the Board.