The donation, which is only known to have come from an alum of the university and their family, was valued at around $2.5m – the largest single gift ever received by the university for study abroad.

The gift has been used to help establish the L&L Friendship Fund – geared specifically at study abroad, and has been described as a “game changer” by associate vice-provost of global initiatives at VCU, Jill Blondin.

“This will allow more students access to study abroad opportunities, which will help them professionally.

“[This could be] from an access to global learning perspective, but also from an intercultural agility skill-building perspective,” Blondin said, speaking with The PIE.

The story began with a “call from an unknown number”, said Laura Edge Kottkamp, executive director of the College of Engineering Foundation, the School of Business Foundation and the VCU Foundation.

An attorney representing the donor “sparked” a process that took over a year to establish the L&L fund.

The donor was reportedly spurred on by their own study abroad experience.

“This gift is truly significant not only in its size, but also in the potential of its impact”

“I’ve loved that the concept at VCU of study abroad is for everyone, because everyone can be a great global citizen,” said Kottkamp.

Because the money was given not as a pledge, but in full as a gift, students will “benefit immediately” from the funds, with 21 awards of $2,000 available to students demonstrating “financial need”.

“This gift is truly significant not only in its size, but also in the potential of its impact for many years to come,” said Stephanie Tignor, director of global learning at VCU.

Students benefiting will be selected by VCU’s global education office, and the money will be used for “expenses associated with educational experiences abroad on a GEO-approved credit-bearing program”.

“I cannot overemphasise the importance of this gift, and feel humbled by and incredibly thankful to the donor,” Blondin told The PIE.