Princeton's Office of Development has been reorganized to maximize its ability to provide financial support for the University.
Brian McDonald, vice president for development since February, is restructuring the office and organizing teams around four key "business areas": individual and institutional giving; development relations; development information services; and development planning and administration. Three long-time staff members have been elevated to lead the new organization (see related story ), which was effective Oct. 1.
"The new design is based on the business of fund raising and will make us a more effective organization," McDonald said. "By emphasizing these four teams, we will pursue a unified strategy for fund raising, expanded cultivation and stewardship, centrally coordinated information services and strong administration and planning. The new organizational structure also allows for strategic growth."
McDonald emphasized that the 120-member development staff enters this reorganization from a "position of strength." From 1996 to 2000, it was instrumental in the University raising $1.14 billion in the Anniversary Campaign, the most successful fund-raising effort in Princeton's history. More than 50,000 alumni, parents and friends of the University contributed -- including an unprecedented 78 percent of undergraduate alumni.
McDonald, a member of the class of 1983, served in several key volunteer fund-raising roles before joining the staff, including chairing the Challenge 2000 Committee that encouraged participation in the Anniversary Campaign by members of the youngest alumni classes. While the campaign has concluded, he said, the University's needs continue to grow.
"Our biggest challenge is a table of needs that is at least equal to the amount of money we raised during the campaign," he said. "Our planning, our focus, our volunteer structure and our budget are below campaign levels. We need to address each of these areas if we are to meet the goals the University has set for us."
The full story is available in the Weekly Bulletin.
Contact: Marilyn Marks (609) 258-3601
