Two decades ago, the VCU School of Business Foundation was born from a singular, ambitious vision: the construction of Snead Hall.
Today, that same foundation has evolved into a vital engine for growth at the VCU School of Business. Guided by a diverse board of trustees, the foundation has stewarded philanthropic gifts that empower every corner of the School of Business — from cutting-edge facilities and rigorous academic programs to the students, faculty and staff who bring them to life.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have our own foundation; it allows us to go above and beyond our standard budget,” said Mayoor “Max” Mohan, Ph.D., associate dean, strategic affairs and research initiatives at the School of Business. “We must be judicious with our finances, and the foundation provides the added resources needed to support initiatives like clubs and competitions. It ensures our students can engage in truly meaningful endeavors.”
The grants mark an expansion from the foundation’s stewardship of funds to include proactive reinvestment, primarily as a result of the growth of the foundation’s investment portfolio. The VCU Business Foundation trustees voted to distribute funds directly back into the business school through a competitive grant process. Available for faculty, staff and student programs, the first year of grant offerings saw a total of nine recipients, each of whom were awarded between $1,000 and $10,000 in funding.
“Our VCU Business Foundation grants are more than just a funding mechanism,” said Laura Kottkamp, Ed.D., CEO of the VCU Foundations. “Our trustees aim to gain a deeper understanding of the innovative projects, research and initiatives currently created by and driving forward the VCU School of Business community.”
In the case of two 2025 VCU Business Foundation grant recipients, foundation funding opened the door to the national stage.
Students Catori Griffin (B.S. ‘26) and Saamiya Mohammed (B.S. ‘25) participated in a School of Business student-faculty mentorship program that gives students a chance to conduct academic research. In 2025, Griffin worked one-on-one with Suzanne Makarem, Ph.D. to explore non-voting behaviors beyond Gen Z, while Mohammed focused on specialized package design with Jodie Ferguson, Ph.D. With support from VCU Business Foundation grants, these research collaborations evolved from mentorships into advanced research projects that were ultimately accepted to the Society of Marketing Advances Conference in Las Vegas — a venue typically reserved for seasoned academics and postdoctoral researchers. Foundation funding also allowed Griffin and Mohammed to travel to Las Vegas to present their work at the conference, giving them professional exposure that would have been difficult to support through a standard departmental budget.
“Attending the SMA Conference will have a lasting impact on my career by exposing me to graduate-level research,” said Griffin. “This experience strengthened my interest in pursuing a graduate degree in the future, while also helping me better understand the timing and pathways available. Additionally, connecting with graduate students and professors gave me a clearer perspective on careers in marketing academia and how research can inform real-world impact.”
“Our job is, quite simply, to be a catalyst for student opportunities,” said Mohan. “With the financial support of our foundation, we’re able to do that. The moment one of our students goes and presents a research paper at a conference, all of a sudden, they’re standing taller. They’re more confident. They’re performing better in an interview, landing a better job. What they think of as their ceiling is pushed way higher.”
But student research was only one way the grants were put to work. Faculty and staff recipients also used the funding to create experiences that help students see careers up close.
One of those recipients, Associate Director of Corporate Engagement Robert Clarkson, Ed.D., M.B.A., is using his grant to fund four trips for high-achieving students to visit businesses in Central Virginia: Fahrenheit, Hamilton Beach, CapTech and C&F Bank.
“There is a profound shift that happens when a student steps out of the classroom and into a professional workspace,” said Clarkson. “Seeing our own alumni succeeding in these roles allows students to move past just learning about a career — it empowers them to actually envision themselves in it.”
Mohan said the foundation grants align directly with Opportunity 2030, the VCU School of Business’s strategic plan, which aims to help students realize their full potential in their careers and in life.
“The real game-changer with these grants isn’t necessarily the knowledge our students gain,” said Mohan. “It’s the moment they look out of the same eyes they’ve always had and see a world of possibilities they hadn’t considered before. These things happen when you go above and beyond. We’re grateful and appreciative to be able to provide that with the foundation’s help, and we look forward to creating more meaningful opportunities for our students, faculty and staff.”
2025 VCU Business Foundation General Grant Recipients
- Cait Burns – Student Organization Support
- Robert Clarkson – Student Company Site Visits
- NSBE Conference for Information Systems students
- Cait Burns – Forté Partnership
- Alisa Brink – Reporting Fraud Research
- Catori Griffin – Undergrad Research Conference
- Saamiya Mohammed – Grayscale vs. Color Research (conference experience)
2025 VCU Business Foundation Dean’s Grant Recipients
- Mayoor “Max” Mohan – Media Hub
- Carol Scotese – From Tools to Impact – Advancing AI Integration in Business Education
2026 VCU Business Foundation Grant Recipients
- Abbey Stanzione – 2026 Business Etiquette Dinner
- Helene Bumbalo – Mental Resilience for Career Services
- Katybeth Lee – YRichmond
- Cait Burns – NASPA Conference
- Kalyn McDonough – Youth Justice Sports Partnership
- Julia Wingfield – Career Leadership Collective
- Elena Olson – Global STEMconverge
- Cait Burns – Student Organization Support
To learn more about the VCU Business Foundation, visit vcufoundations.org.