Virginia Military Institute Foundation (VMI Foundation) manages an endowment fund that is based in Lexington, Virginia. Established in 1839, It also supports capital improvements on Post that ensure that VMI has the high-quality facilities necessary to provide modern education and a healthful environment in which the Corps of Cadets live, learn, and compete. Also, immediate gifts from donors and endowments that the VMI Foundation manages annually generate millions of dollars in financial aid. The foundation's endowment is combined in an investment fund with the alumni association, development board, and Keydet Club and is controlled and managed by the board of trustees.Virginia Military Institute Foundation's investment portfolio is valued at $474.6 million, with investments in private equity.