Frequently Asked Questions
The Law School is state-supported. Why should I give?
Only 8% of the Law School’s annual budget comes from the Commonwealth of Virginia. To help bridge the gap, the Law School draws on revenue from three additional sources: tuition, income from endowment, and philanthropic contributions.
Doesn’t my tuition cover the cost of my education?
Compared to most institutions, tuition only covers a portion of the cost of your education. The difference is made up each year through philanthropic contributions that help make your education possible. Nearly 30% of the Law School’s operating budget comes from alumni support and approximately 94% of law students receive an academic scholarship supported through private donations. Now is your opportunity to do the same for the students of tomorrow!
How do philanthropic contributions affect students at William & Mary Law School?
Academic excellence and intimacy are expensive. William & Mary Law School’s identity and reputation for academic excellence is inextricably bound to its small size, superb students and faculty, and extensive programs. Alumni support enables us to keep tuition low, attracting the best and brightest students; recruit and retain expert faculty; maintain small class sizes and low student-instructor ratios; and enhance immersive, experiential learning opportunities that are critical in shaping the next generation of citizen lawyers.
Are gifts to the 3L class gift campaign tax-deductible?
Yes! When you give a cash gift to the Law School, it is deductible for that year.
I can’t give that much. Will my donation really make a difference?
A little goes a long way! In 2024, gifts of $25 and under accounted for 77% of the 3L class gifts and amounted to nearly $2,000 benefiting the Law School and our student organizations. You can also give over the course of the campaign through incremental installments, if it is more financially feasible. Cumulative giving is counted toward each individual’s total.
Can I direct my gift to a specific organization at the Law School?
Yes! You can designate your 3L class gift to any area of the Law School that is meaningful to you. Contributions can even be distributed across multiple funds.
What if I can’t decide where to designate my gift?
All 3L class gifts that are not designated to a fund of your choosing will be directed to the William & Mary Law School Annual Fund. Contributions to the Annual Fund are used to support the school’s most pressing needs, such as financial aid assistance, faculty support, loan forgiveness programs, and all the extraordinary programs that sustain a William & Mary Law School experience.
Does alumni and graduate giving/gift participation influence how our law school is perceived in the legal community?
Without private support, the Law School would struggle to maintain its national ranking. Additionally, the level of alumni participation is important. High alumni participation on an annual basis is a strong message to prospective students, faculty, and peer institutions, that William & Mary Law School’s graduates are loyal and that their law school’s continued success is a priority. Support for the Law School is an investment in the future of legal education and in the value of your degree. Every gift makes a difference!
| Giving Levels | Years Since Graduation |
| $1,000 | Alumni 1 - 4 years since graduation |
| $1,500 | Alumni 5 - 7 years since graduation |
| $2,000 | Alumni 8 - 9 years since graduation |
| $2,500 | Alumni 10+ years since graduation |