Innovators Circle

The Georgetown Innovators Pledge is an opportunity for company founders, equity holders, and investors to make a nonbinding commitment to give back to Georgetown University when they achieve success. Alumni who make the Innovators Pledge have full control over the form, timing, amount, and designation of their gift; support can be directed to any Georgetown designation, and does not need to be determined until proceeds from the gift are realized by Georgetown.

Simply complete the pledge form on this site. When the timing is right for you, our team can help arrange your gift to the university. Annual gifts are also encouraged; every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Any Georgetown founder, owner, innovator, early employee, or changemaker can make the Innovators Pledge.

No, every gift to Georgetown University fuels the university’s tradition of academic excellence and service to others. While annual giving is encouraged among all alumni, fulfillment of your Innovators Pledge commitment is intended to be a milestone gift, marking a notable moment in your entrepreneurial or investment journey. The gift should be personally significant, guided by your goals for the impact you want to have at Georgetown.

Where you choose to give is a personal decision. You determine your gift designation when you fulfill your Innovators Pledge. Every area of the university has a critical role to play in helping Georgetown become the institution it is called to be. Gifts to any area support the formation of our students, the inquiry of our faculty, and our contributions to the common good.

The potential tax benefits depend on how you choose to make your gift. You may choose a charitable deduction based on the actual gift of cash, the appraised value of pre-IPO shares or interest in the entity. In addition, you may also benefit from capital gains tax avoidance and/or removing the asset from your taxable estate. Georgetown is available to discuss the specific tax benefits for any Innovators Circle gift.

The Innovators Pledge is a commitment to make a gift reflective of the success of your company or investment. Georgetown understands that all ventures do not result in a liquidity event. You are welcome to cancel or adjust your existing pledge.

We would love to recognize you for the commitment you made to Georgetown and help you stay involved in the university’s entrepreneurship community; retroactive memberships are welcome! Please contact us to connect your previous gifts.

Don’t hesitate to email us at innovatorscircle@georgetown.edu; we’re happy to answer any additional questions you might have about the Georgetown Innovators Pledge and/or how it might work in your specific situation.

There are several ways to get involved with the entrepreneurship community:

• Georgetown Entrepreneurship enables students to see the world as entrepreneurs do while providing them with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to act on their insights and provide value to society. We foster an entrepreneurial mindset in and out of the classroom and create a supportive environment that pushes students to think creatively.
• Georgetown Entrepreneurship Alliance (GEA) supports alumni entrepreneurs to become stronger as individuals and as a community, leading to greater engagement and support of Georgetown University, the Alumni Association, and the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Georgetown Angel Investor Network (GAIN) is an inclusive alumni angel network that backs Georgetown-affiliated ventures, leveraging the strength of the diverse alumni community to accelerate innovation and expand the Georgetown startup ecosystem.