The Story Behind GradFunded
A modern graduation registry created by a Virginia Wesleyan University graduate and her mom to simplify and modernize graduation gifting.
Graduation announcements were ordered late. When they finally arrived, they were dark and unusable. By the time replacements could be printed, graduation was already over — money lost, time wasted, and a lot of heartbreak. On top of that, our family had just moved, we had no plans for a party, and no updated information had been shared with many of our family. Reaching relatives — and receiving graduation gifts at all — suddenly felt nearly impossible.
At the end of senior-year chaos — between dog walks and late-night talks with Madison — I had that familiar, sinking feeling of being a “terrible mom.” That’s when we had a thought:
“What if there were a simple way to say: ‘I’m graduating — and here’s what would actually help without sending expensive annoucements and spending more money on postage.’”
People genuinely want to give something meaningful for graduation. But the traditional way — cards, stamps, wrong addresses, returned mail, lost checks, and bad timing — has become stressful, expensive, and outdated.
So GradFunded was born. A modern graduation registry designed for how seniors (and families) actually live.
You create one simple registry page, personalize it with your story, and choose what will genuinely help you start strong. It’s a modern digital announcement wrapped into a secure cash gift registry. Seniors can share photos, goals, and dreams — all in one place — while receiving cash gifts safely and securely.
Built in Virginia Beach, Virginia by a proud Virginia Wesleyan graduate and her mom.
Every page on GradFunded was hand-coded by the two of us — no agency. Just heart, late nights, coffee, and a shared mission to modernize graduation gifting.
With love,
Joy & Madison
Our Mission
Help graduates start financially stronger by modernizing graduation gifting — safer, simpler, and useful.
Help Grads Start Financially Stronger
Cash gifting that helps graduates start financially stronger — supporting real needs.
Modern Gifting, One Link
A free digital announcement and registry in one, letting family anywhere in the world see your photos, read your graduation story, and send a gift.
Safe & Secure Payments
Gifts are processed securely online and tracked in the graduate’s dashboard — no cash envelopes, no lost checks, and no mail delays.
Built in Gift Tracking + Thank You's
Built-in gift tracking that keeps every gift organized, with simple one-click thank-yous to make showing appreciation easy.