The Rutgers University Foundation is in the planning process of launching a new campaign to raise more money and draw more donors for 2010.
Within the next year or so, the foundation plans to address the University community about the plan to launch the campaign, said Deborah Sontupe, foundation campaign manager.
“We’ve had three record-breaking years in a row at the foundation, so we are getting closer and closer of being ready to announce to the public that we will have a significant campaign for the University,” she said. “As we get closer to that, there’s a lot of planning and excitement that comes into play in terms of getting the University community ready for that.”
Despite some setbacks due to a slumping economy and state budget cuts, the foundation was able to raise a significant amount of money for the past few years and plans to continue urging alumni support, said Lavinia Boxill, vice president for major gift programs at the foundation.
“Some institutions have seen a drop-off, and they’ve also been downsizing because of some budget cuts,” Boxill said. “We’ve stayed very strong — investing in our staff — because private support is so important to the University. So the fact that we’ve geared up in the last few years, we’re reaching more and more alumni.”
The foundation, created in 1973 by the Board of Governors, oversees all private, philanthropic funding and donations to the University, Director of Campaign Communications Brian O’Leary said.
“Our sole purpose is to raise funds for Rutgers,” said O’Leary, a University alumnus. “We do that through individual donations that are given to the University, corporate donations and planned gifts.”
The annual fund raises about $7 million a year, Boxill said. A large number of donations and funding for the University comes from private donors and alumni.
Although some alumni have been affected by the economy, many are still donating because of their dedication to help students, she said. Alumni were able to donate more than $15,000 in scholarships in the last few years.
“The alumni recognize the impact the state budget and the economy has on our students, and they really want to support our students,” she said.
The foundation believes scholarship donations as well as corporate donations are still possible for 2010, despite economic issues, Boxill said.
“We see it being a challenge particularly with the corporations next year, potentially, because they’ve been hit very hard,” Boxill said. “But we’re still out there talking about signature programs — scholarships and student support in particular.”
She said students could help the foundation attract future donors and encourage current ones to continue to donate by showing their appreciation of the scholarships and funding.
“When students are invited to come to a scholarship reception or to write a thank you note [for receiving a scholarship], that’s a part of involving them in all our fundraising efforts,” Boxill said. “It’s enormously important to the donors that they see that the students’ lives are impacted from the contributions they make.”
This positive reception encourages donors to continue to provide scholarships, Boxill said. A large portion of students’ education is funded by private donations.
“Most times, if the donors have capacity, they give more,” she said.
The foundation is still receiving donations today because of support from the University community as a whole, she said. Although the foundation expects 2010 to be a little more difficult to raise money and attract donors, they see funding for next year coming along well.
“I think it’s going to be a tough year because the economy has not leveled off yet, and many people are uncertain [if they can contribute],” Boxill said. “But increasingly, as we engage with our alumni and ask them for serious contributions, those who can, really do make a commitment and those can do later, we’re confident they will if we keep them engaged.”
U. creates campaign to attract
Published: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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