Mission & Vision

Founded to establish an endowment capital fund, Vilnius University Foundation uses the return made from investment to ensure university’s financial stability, finance studies, internships, establish scholarships and mobility grants for the most talented students and scholars at home and abroad. The Foundation supports scientific research of the highest quality and the creation of study programmes that correspond to global demands and encourages other high added-value projects.

By embracing the historical experience, current ambitions and future prospects the Fundation strives to ensure the global competitiveness of Vilnius University as a national hub of science and culture.

The Beginnings

Vilnius University Foundation was established on April 6, 2016, thus becoming the first university endowment in Lithuania. The Foundation establishing treaty was signed by the first three investors – Rimantas Kraujalis on behalf of  JSC “Ekspla”, Professor Algis Petras Piskarskas on behalf of JSC “Light Conversion” and investor Alvydas Žabolis.

A Common Practice Internationally

In countries like the USA and Great Britain university endowments are a common and proven practice – more than 80 USA universities’ endowments have each collected over a billion US dollars. Among them, Harvard University Endowment is the largest, amounting to over 40 billion US dollars (as of 2019). Meanwhile, in Great Britain the Cambridge University Endowment Fund and the Oxford Endowment Fund amount to over 5 billion GBP each.

By establishing the first fund of this kind in Lithuania, the investors set a new standard for the society that understands the importance of investing into the country’s future generations and wants to contribute to strengthening the global competitiveness of one of the oldest and biggest Lithuanian higher education establishments.

Philanthropy at Vilnius University

Vilnius University has always been at the center of attention for Lithuania’s brightest minds appreciating the importance of education. The gallery of Vilnius University Grand Courtyard commemorates University’s founders, patrons and eminent men of science. It reminds of the importance of ideas and work that were conceived and developed here, as Vilnius University, alongside being an education establishment, has always been one of the most prominent sources of the country’s progress.

Frescos at Vilnius University Grand Courtyard

The University’s history is marked by notable figures as it has been a place for realization of ideas and visions not only for scientists, but political and business figures alike. Each sponsor and ideological partner has once made a timely decision – to support the intellectual origins.

Historical patrons Valerijonas Protasevičius, Kazimieras Leonas Sapiega, Jurgis Radvila, Elžbieta Oginskaitė–Puzinienė

Valerijonas Protasevičius, Kazimieras Leonas Sapiega, Jurgis Radvila, Elžbieta Oginskaitė–Puzinienė and many others were not simply individual sponsors, but rather the creators and successors of the prestigious tradition of patronage. Each of them in their own right contributed to the maturity of the Lithuanian intelligentsia, higher education and the society as a whole.

Modern Days Philanthropy

The founders and fellow partners of the Vilnius University Foundation aim again, in the 21st century, to gather the business, science and societal thought leaders that contribute to the future achievements of Lithuania. The Vilnius University Foundation is a continuation of a centuries-long tradition of cooperation between science and business.

Modern times patrons Rimantas Kraujalis, Reda ir Alvydas Žaboliai, Darius Zubas, Danas Tvarijonavičius, Romualdas Danielius

By carrying on the tradition of patronage, the Foundation makes a commitment to act exclusively for the benefit of the University, while Vilnius University, by implementing the Foundation’s select projects, takes advantage of the additional financial opportunities to attract foreign talent, increase the quality of study and research and initiate other added-value activities at Vilnius University.

So me of our sponsorship recipients: Mantas Šimėnas, Thomas Peak, Nethra Dev Milind Dev

Pursuant to the cooperation agreement, Vilnius University has granted the Foundation the permission to use its name, promote the Foundation and ensure proper organization of the Foundation’s activities, while the Foundation is obliged to act exclusively for the benefit of VU. The Vilnius University Foundation is the University’s social partner that is represented in the University’s governing bodies.

Become a Donor!

We invite everyone who views one of the oldest Eastern and Central Europe’s universities as the heart for Lithuania’s brightest minds to join other supporters of this idea and leave their mark for future generations.