WILLIAMSBURG — Donors gave a record $103 million to Colonial Williamsburg in 2023, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation announced last week.
According to the foundation, those funds will advance its educational mission and fund key preservation, education and civic engagement initiatives.
“Our donors, who believe deeply in Colonial Williamsburg and understand the impact they have on our mission and our daily work, are making wonderful philanthropic investments that are essential to our goals,” said Cliff Fleet, president and CEO of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (CWF).
Fleet said donors have been steadfast in their support of the foundation’s initiatives for the past several years, noting 2023, 2022 and 2021 were the top-three fundraising years in Colonial Williamsburg’s 97-year history.
The foundation launched “The Power of Place — The Centennial Campaign for Colonial Williamsburg” in October 2023, a multiyear fundraising initiative it said is advancing projects and operations leading to 2026 — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the foundation’s own centennial anniversary.
“We named our campaign ‘the Power of Place’ because so many of the ideas and events leading to the American Revolution happened in and around Williamsburg,” said Fleet. “Today, as a direct result of our remarkable donors, the Foundation is making a significant impact on the nation as we enhance our ability to present authentic historical accounts and engage in lessons and conversations around history and civic engagement, subjects that are critically needed in American education. We will continue to work closely with our donors so Colonial Williamsburg can lead the way up to and beyond the 250th anniversary of the United States.”
As a result, activity in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area and online programming flourished in 2023, according to CWF.
“Our donors’ enthusiasm for our work and their belief in our mission is driving us to reach new heights,” said Sani Silvennoinen, chief development officer for the foundation. “Their engagement and remarkable commitment are critical to our ability to share the prolific research and discoveries happening during this exciting time in Williamsburg. We will continue to draw inspiration from our donors as we accelerate our progress leading to 2026 and beyond.”
