🌱 Securing the Future:
The 2026 Campaign to Endow the Virginia Tech Soil Judging Team
For decades, the Virginia Tech Soil Judging Team has represented the very best of our university, giving students hands-on, competitive experience in the field. To ensure the team thrives for generations to come, we are launching an ambitious campaign to establish a permanent endowment by the Fall 2026 VAPSS 50th Anniversary Meeting.
Our goal is straightforward but bold: Raise $100,000 in pledged donations.
Here is why this matters, how we plan to do it, and how you can help us unlock a massive matching gift!
Why an Endowment? (Making Your Dollar Go Further)
Currently, day-to-day team funds are kept in a standard Virginia Tech Foundation account. While useful, it has drawbacks: the Foundation takes a 5% administrative fee on every donation, and the account doesn't earn any meaningful interest.
An endowment changes everything.
When we establish a dedicated endowment for the Soil Judging Team:
-
Zero Admin Fees: The Foundation waives the 5% administrative tax on your donations.
-
Steady Income: The principal grows through investments, paying out roughly 4% every single year to fund the team's contest trips and travel expenses.
-
Perpetual Support: The remaining interest helps the fund keep up with inflation and grow the principal, securing the team's financial future indefinitely.
The Hurdle: Reaching the Magic Number
While we have diligently saved about $46,000 in a separate money market account, the Virginia Tech Foundation requires $100,000 in new donations to officially open an endowment. They do not accept partial amounts, and we cannot simply transfer our existing funds to start it.
We need to raise the full $100,000 to cross the finish line.
🚨 The $15,000 Matching Challenge!
We have an incredible opportunity to jumpstart this campaign. Dr. Harold Mathews has generously pledged $15,000 this May, but there is a catch. His donation is contingent upon being matched dollar-for-dollar by VAPSS members and alumni!
If we can collectively raise $15,000, Dr. Mathews' gift will double our impact to $30,000, getting us nearly two-thirds of the way to our goal overnight.
How the Campaign Works
Because the Foundation won't accept the funds until we hit the $100,000 minimum, we have set up a secure, transparent way to pool our donations:
-
Pooling the Funds: We are collecting campaign donations either through a dedicated VAPSS account or via DAFFY, a top-tier Donor Advised Fund.
-
Why DAFFY? We chose DAFFY because it charges a low, flat fee of just $3/month (saving us thousands compared to traditional percentage-based investment firms). It safely stores our funds, automatically provides you with tax documentation, and ensures your contributions are tax-deductible in the year you give, even while we are still building toward the final goal.
-
The Hand-off: Once our pooled funds hit $100,000 (ideally by late October 2026 or sooner!), Dr. Galbraith will sign the agreement and officially grant the entire sum to establish the Virginia Tech Foundation Soil Judging Endowment.
-
Future Growth: Once the endowment is officially alive, any future donations to help grow the principal can be made directly to the VT Foundation.
How You Can Help
The VAPSS 50th Anniversary in Fall 2026 is the perfect time to cement our legacy. Whether you are matching Dr. Mathews' challenge, pledging a future gift, or spreading the word, your support guarantees that VT students will always have the resources they need to get their hands dirty and compete at the highest level.
Thank you for your continued dedication to the Virginia Tech Soil Judging Team!