Are you a JMU faculty or staff member with an idea for a groundbreaking program or creative or scholarly research project? Presenting at Madison Trust offers you a unique opportunity to pitch your innovative idea to a panel of enthusiastic donors.

JMU innovators who are selected as one of the annual top 10 Madison Trust finalists benefit from:

• Support for budgets up to $50,000
• Assistance with positioning your innovation to seek other gifts, philanthropic grants, or additional private funding opportunities
• Visibility and prestige of being selected to showcase your project for an audience including campus leaders, engaged donors, and your peers

Our submission portal for Madison Trust 2027 will open in September 2026 and proposals will be due mid-November.

Link for proposal submission coming in the fall. In the meantime, email us at madisontrust@jmu.edu to express interest.

• Mid-September, 2026: Three informational sessions hosted in various locations on campus
• Mid-November, 2026: Proposal submission deadline for Madison Trust 2027
• Mid-December, 2026: Top 10 finalists selected; all submitters notified of outcome
• January & February 2027: Presenter Workshops (dates TBD based on finalists' schedules)
• Early March 2027: Dress/Tech Rehearsal (dates TBD based on finalists' schedules)
• Friday, March 12, 2027: Madison Trust event and project presentations (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; individual presentation times TBD)

Please note that many dates/times are TBD, as finalist schedules are accommodated as much as possible.