Virginia Peninsula Community College broke ground for a new multi-million-dollar workforce center in Newport News on August 12, 2025.
College presidents and foundation staffers know well that celebratory events like last summer’s VPCC workforce center groundbreaking, pictured here, don’t happen without tremendous time and effort devoted to fund-raising.
The VCCS brought together college presidents and institutional advancement leaders in the fall to boost efforts to secure support from community and industry partners. The message from System Chancellor David Doré was clear: “Philanthropic investment—working alongside state support—is vital to fulfilling our mission.”
With assistance from fund-raising consultants Gonser Gerber, the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education organized The President’s Academy for Institutional Advancement in mid-October. Eighty college presidents and board members gathered at Brightpoint Community College’s Midlothian campus to help build a stronger culture of philanthropy.
The Presidents Academy for Institutional Advancement was held at Brightpoint’s Midlothian Campus Oct. 14-15.
The event allowed tenured college presidents to share their donor experiences and best practices and spotlighted and celebrated partnership successes across the system.
“When local partners invest in our students and programs, they invest in the future of our region,” said Virginia Peninsula Community College President Towuanna Porter Brannon. “Philanthropic collaboration helps us align education with workforce needs and ensure that every student has access to the tools and support needed to succeed. This academy helped strengthen those regional partnerships and reminded all Presidents that fundraising is central to our leadership role. It’s how we turn community trust and shared vision into lasting impact for our students.”
“I want every one of you to leave energized and better equipped to fundraise—not as individual colleges, but as One System,” said Chancellor Doré. “Our goal is to promote a renewed focus on philanthropy—one that helps us achieve and exceed the goals of our statewide strategic plan, Accelerate Opportunity.”
“Above all, let us remember why we do this work. Our students and communities are counting on us. Let’s go forth with renewed purpose and make a lasting difference—together,” he added.
Virginia’s Community Colleges in recent years have increasingly turned to industry and community support to meet pressing needs for programs and facilities.
Organizers of the October gathering say it was so successful they hope to make it an annual event.
