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Princeton’s Annual Giving campaign raises $69.6 million

By University Advancement on July 6, 2018, 3 p.m.
Photo by
Denise Applewhite, Office of Communications

Princeton University’s 2017-18 Annual Giving campaign raised $69,554,597 — the second-highest total in Annual Giving history — with 55.7 percent of undergraduate alumni participating. The results are notable for their strength across all of Princeton’s constituencies: undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni, parents and friends.

“This year’s Annual Giving results are remarkable,” said President Christopher L. Eisgruber. “The unrestricted funds raised through Annual Giving are vital to strengthening Princeton’s mission of excellence in teaching and research and to meeting the full financial need of our talented students. I am grateful to our many volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and to our alumni, parents and friends for their generous and unwavering support of Princeton.”

The Class of 1993, with a participation rate of 66.3 percent, raised the greatest amount — $11,661,993, the highest total ever for a 25th Reunion class and an all-time record for any class. Three other major Reunion classes set new records: the Class of 1983, which broke the 35th Reunion record with $5,115,083; the 55th Reunion Class of 1963, which raised $3,500,063; and the Class of 1958, which raised $3,225,735 in celebration of its 60th Reunion.

The 50th Reunion Class of 1968 finished with $4,775,093, its highest total ever, with 73.9 percent participation. Three other major Reunion classes raised more than $1 million: 1988 with $5,511,988; 1998 with $2,479,403; and 1978 with $1,697,793.

Graduate alumni gave more than $2 million for the first time ever, raising $2,332,685 from 2,667 donors. Princeton parents contributed $2,900,251 to the total, a 9 percent increase over the previous year and the ninth consecutive year above $2.5 million.

The Class of 1992 raised the highest total among non-major Reunion classes, with $855,800; seven other non-major Reunion classes recorded totals of $500,000 or more.

This year’s highest percentage of participation belongs to the Class of 1963, which achieved 77.9 percent on the occasion of its 55th Reunion. That was followed by the 50th Reunion Class of 1968, which reached 73.9 percent; the Class of 1951, which achieved 71.8 percent; and the Class of 2017, which reached 70.1 percent. Twenty-three other classes recorded participation rates of 60 percent or higher.

The youngest 10 classes averaged 60.1 percent participation. The Class of 2018, the University’s newest alumni, achieved a pledge rate of 84.6 percent, with 1,100 of its members pledging to support Annual Giving for the next four years.

“The continued success of Annual Giving is the direct result of the dedication and enthusiasm of our incredible volunteer team together with the generosity and loyalty of our alumni, parents and friends,” said Annual Giving Chair Timothy Kingston, a member of the Class of 1987. “It is the impressive breadth of participation that sustains Princeton’s margin of excellence. Every single gift makes an important difference on campus.”

Unrestricted gifts to Annual Giving go directly into the operating budget for the benefit of Princeton’s students and faculty. These flexible funds directly support Princeton’s educational mission, enabling the University to stay at the forefront of teaching and research, and to ensure the affordability of a Princeton education for all admitted students.

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