Annual Giving tops $24 million

The University’s Annual Giving fundraising campaign is making good progress toward its goals of raising $46 million and reaching a 60 percent participation rate among undergraduate alumni, said William Hardt ’63, assistant vice president of development for Annual Giving.

Though this year’s campaign goal was decreased from last year’s target of $56 million, the current campaign’s progress is ahead of last year’s around this time, both in the total amount donated and the alumni participation rate.

The AG campaign has collected more than $24 million as of April 2, compared to the $20.5 million that had been collected as of March 27 last year. The participation rates have stayed relatively constant, as 31.4 percent of alumni have made a contribution compared to last year’s 29.3 percent around this time.

“There is no way to accurately predict the final results, but we feel we are in a good position for success,” Hardt said.

Last year’s campaign fell short of its goal by more than $10 million, raising $44.6 million and achieving a 57.7 percent participation rate among undergraduate alumni. The amount raised last year was significantly smaller than the record $54.1 million amassed during the 2007–08 campaign.

“The economic climate continues to be challenging, but our alumni, parents and friends are strongly committed to the important purposes Princeton serves, as more than 40,000 donors [contributed] last year under even more difficult conditions,” Hardt said.

Deborah Yu ’98, who serves as her class’s AG agent, noted that though the economic recession has affected total monetary donations, its impact on the participation rate among her classmates has been less pronounced.

“In recent years, it has been more difficult to reach dollar values, but I am not sure participation has been affected,” she said, adding that her class “had a record-breaking year last year for [its] 11th [reunion].”

Though last year’s campaign failed to reach its overall target, Yu said she did not think it necessary to increase the amount of work she puts into fundraising efforts this year.

“Every year, I strive to raise the most I can for our class,” Yu explained. “Sure, it is tougher to [ask] those classmates who lost jobs during the economic downturn, but others make up for those.”

Those involved with AG said they hope for a positive end to this year’s donation drive.

“Progress to date has been solid, the spirit and energy of our volunteers is high, and the University continues to occupy a high priority among alumni, parents and friends,” Hardt said, adding that the campaign is “optimistic” when it comes to meeting the set goal this year.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Both Hardt and Yu said they look forward to the coming weeks, which Yu called the “annual April challenge.”

“April marks the beginning of the most active phase of the Annual Giving campaign year as we move toward the closing date of June 30,” Hardt explained.

Meanwhile, fundraising among the Class of 2010 has been strong, said Merritt Hummer ’10, one of three chairs of Alumni Giving on the class’ Commencement committee.

“I prefer not to disclose our current participation rate yet, but we set a goal to achieve 91 percent participation by graduation,” she said in an e-mail. This would eclipse the Class of 2009’s record 90.7 percent participation rate.

For the graduating class, “the Annual Giving campaign is all about achieving a high participation rate, not raising a certain dollar sum, so people are encouraged to pledge whatever they can, even if that is only $1,” she added.