The 1872 Society recognizes the loyalty, leadership, and impact of people who make unusually generous, current-use contributions to any designation at Virginia Tech. There are three circles of distinction within the society:

  • The Grove Circle honors those who provide annual gifts of $25,000 or more.

  • The Burruss Hall Circle honors those who give from $10,000 to $24,999.

  • The Drillfield Circle honors students or alumni up to five years since graduation whose annual giving reaches $1,000, alumni from six to nine years since graduation whose annual giving reaches $2,500, and anyone with annual giving from $5,000-$9,999.

Members remain in the society as long as they continue to make qualifying gifts each fiscal year. The university's fiscal years run from July through June.