UVA’s ‘Give Where You Live’ campaign will support the local community

September 16, 2026
Portrait of Kevin McDonald.

Kevin McDonald, vice president for community engagement and equal opportunity, is one of the University’s leaders for the fall giving campaign that will benefit local nonprofits. “UVA employees are not only colleagues; we’re neighbors, volunteers, parents, coaches and community members. Local nonprofits do important work that strengthens this region every day,” he said. (University Communications photo)

On Wednesday, scores of University of Virginia faculty and staff members hefted hammers, brandished brooms and cleared clutter at nonprofits across the region during the United Way of Greater Charlottesville’s annual Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring. 

However, that was just the beginning of UVA’s commitment to the community this fall. The event also kicked off UVA’s “Give Where You Live” campaign, a fundraising effort to support the Charlottesville-area community partners who serve the University’s neighbors.

This year’s “Give Where You Live” campaign is spearheaded by Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer “J.J.” Wagner Davis, Vice President for Community Engagement and Equal Opportunity Kevin McDonald, interim Executive Vice President and Provost Brie Gertler and UVA Health CEO and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Mitch Rosner.

McDonald chatted with UVA Today about why the campaign is focusing the University’s giving on the Charlottesville region.

Q. This is a bit of a departure from past UVA giving campaigns because the focus is on supporting nonprofits in the Charlottesville and Albemarle County areas, rather than across the state. Why was it important for the University to concentrate its giving locally?

A. UVA is deeply connected to Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. This is where many of our employees live, work, raise their families and spend their time, and local nonprofits play an important role in making this a strong and vibrant community. “Give Where You Live” provides employees an easy way to support that work while choosing the organizations and causes that matter most to them. It’s one more way we can invest in the community we call home.

Q. What is the campaign goal?

A. We want to make local giving easy and accessible, and encourage broad participation across UVA. Ultimately, success is about connecting more employees with local organizations and building a culture of giving back that can grow over time.

Q. Can you explain how this campaign will work? How can faculty and staff donate, and how can they select which nonprofits to support?

A. Through Dec. 18, UVA academic and Medical Center employees can donate to participating local nonprofits of their choice. Employees can give by credit or debit card or make a pledge through payroll deduction. United Way of Greater Charlottesville is partnering with UVA to administer the campaign and process gifts, and 100% of employee donations will go to the nonprofits they select. (Editor’s note: employees of UVA-affiliated businesses can donate using debit or credit cards).

Give Where You Live, Support our local non-profits Act Now
Give Where You Live, Support our local non-profits Act Now

This year, we have about 100 local agencies to choose from, and we hope to expand that list even further next year.

Q. UVA is a major employer in the region. What responsibility do you and your UVA colleagues have for supporting the local community?

A. Public service is central to UVA’s mission, and being part of a community also means looking for ways to contribute to its well-being. UVA employees are not only colleagues; we’re neighbors, volunteers, parents, coaches and community members. Local nonprofits do important work that strengthens this region every day. Whether through giving, volunteering or other forms of engagement, we each have opportunities to contribute to the community we share.

Q. When you volunteer in the community, or when you contribute to a community organization, what do you get out of it?

A. For me, it’s about connection. Volunteering or giving gets you outside of your day-to-day routine and gives you a better understanding of the community around you. You meet people you might not otherwise meet and see firsthand the impact local organizations are having. And I think you often come away feeling that you received as much from the experience as you gave.

Q. What would you say to a faculty or staff member who hasn’t contributed before to convince them to contribute this year? 

A. I’d say start with what matters to you. Think about a cause you care about and find a local organization on the list that is doing that work. You don’t have to make a large gift for it to make a difference. “Give Where You Live” makes it easy to contribute in a way that works for you. When thousands of UVA employees each choose to do something, even something small, our collective impact can be significant. 

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Mike Mather

Executive Editor University Communications

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