The Endowment Association of The College of William and Mary in Virginia, Incorporated, was established in 1939 under the guidance of President John Stewart Bryan to "aid, strengthen, and expand in every proper and useful way" the College's mission.

Association trustees work with alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to obtain gifts and endowments for scholarships, fellowships, professorships and other important purposes. Trustees then prudently invest these gifts and allocate returns in accordance with donors' wishes and -- if given as unrestricted gifts -- the College's most pressing needs.

As dedicated to this mission as ever, the Asociation's hoard of trustees recently voted to officially change the organizations name to "The College of William & Mary Foundation," effective July 1, 2006. "We felt that The Endowment Association of the College of William and Mary in Virginia, Incorporated,' did not characterize the entire mission of the organization, and, quite frankly; it was rather long," explains Howard Busbee '65, J.D. '67, M.L.T. '68, chair of the Endowment Association. "On the other hand, 'The College of William & Mary Foundation' more accurately describes the full development and investment functions of the organization."

Busbee adds that the name change will not affect the day-to-day workings of the foundation, but, starting on July 1, 2006, Endowment Association donors should begin using the new name when making pledges and gifts. Alumni and friends who already have included the Endowment Association in their estate plans, however, do not need to make changes to their legal documents.