Annual Giving campaign raises almost $32 million, nearing goal of $46 million

In the last four years, alumni made an average of 8,500 gifts totaling roughly $13 million each June, William Hardt ’63, assistant vice president of development for Annual Giving, said in an e-mail.

This year’s goal is slightly larger than the total amount amassed by last year’s Annual Giving campaign, which raised $44.6 million with 57.7 percent alumni participation. Hardt noted that the current dollar amount raised is roughly $3 million more than the amount raised at the same time last year.

“This is especially meaningful and encouraging given the even greater than usual impact that Annual Giving has on financial aid and other key priorities as Princeton works through the challenge of the present economic climate,” Hardt said.

Hardt noted that the Class of 1985 and Class of 1970 have been particularly successful in their fundraising efforts.

“If the 25th Reunion campaign goes well, it has an encouraging effect on the entire campaign,” Hardt said. “This is very much the case with the Class of 1985.” Members of the class have raised more than $4.7 million of their $5.5 million goal, he noted, and “are clearly headed for a strong success, perhaps even at or above their goal.” He also noted that “the Class of 1970 is closing in on their goal of $5,001,970, which would be a new record for a 40th Reunion campaign.”

Deborah Yu ’98, who serves as her class’s Annual Giving agent, said she is not yet disappointed with her class’s turnout and is expecting more contributions after Reunions.

“June is usually where we increase our participation significantly,” Yu said in an e-mail.

Hardt noted that Reunions weekend is especially important for major reunion classes.

“The totals usually get a lift in the preceding week, as some people will regard this as the appropriate time to follow through on gift decisions they reached earlier,” Hardt explained. “It is also a time when others who haven’t yet decided about their gifts will be inspired by returning to campus and having a chance to be exposed to the excitement of the University as it is today as well as to recall how important their own Princeton experience has been to them.”

Yu explained that factors unrelated to the economy have influenced the amount raised by her class, noting that participation tends to decrease after the fifth reunion.

But this challenge does not deter Yu. “For our class, I always try and beat the participation record on the books for that particular reunion year,” she said.

Annual Giving plays a part in the University’s larger five-year Aspire fundraising campaign, which seeks to raise $1.75 billion by 2012. Annual Giving’s goal is to contribute at least $250 million to Aspire. It has raised almost $180 million since 2007.