University contributions to Princeton municipality: 2024 summary

A summary of the many ways in which Princeton University currently contributes to and engages with the Princeton community. Submitted in a memo to the Princeton mayor and council on March 21, 2025. 

Contributions to Princeton: Overview 

Voluntary contributions to Municipality of Princeton 

For decades, Princeton University has made voluntary contributions to the Municipality of Princeton. In January 2024, the University announced contributions of $50 million over five years to the municipality and community organizations, including to support property tax relief for eligible low and middle-income residents. The anticipated contributions include a total of $28.2 million over five years in unrestricted funding to the municipality and an additional $11.35 million to support specific projects related to mass transit, infrastructure repairs and improvements, acquisition of emergency equipment, costs related to fire department personnel, construction of municipal facilities, and emergency housing. 

The 2024 framework also includes contributions totaling $300,000 over three years to Housing Initiatives of Princeton to provide rental housing assistance, $500,000 over five years to 101:Fund to support college scholarships for low-income Princeton High School graduates attending schools other than Princeton University, and up to $10 million to a non-profit fund to provide property tax relief to eligible low and middle-income residents. 

Tax and sewer payments 

The University is the largest property taxpayer in both the municipality and Mercer County, paying $8.8 million in property and sewer taxes for properties in the Municipality of Princeton in 2024. 

Police, fire and emergency services 

The University provides significant support for police, fire and emergency services in the community. The University Department of Public Safety (DPS) has a staff of 164 including sworn officers, non-sworn security officers, fire marshals, supervisory, dispatch and administrative staff. DPS operates 24 hours per day/365 days per year, and works in close collaboration with the municipal police department. 

The University has supported the Fire Department with annual financial contributions and major capital gifts as well as by allowing its employees to serve as volunteers with the department during their paid work hours. Currently 20 University employees are associate members of the Princeton Fire Department, providing critical daytime support to the paid and volunteer members of the department. 

Over many years the University has supported the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad (PFARS) through annual contributions, major capital gifts and in-kind services such as summer housing and telecommunications support. 

The University collaborates regularly with the municipality and Mercer County to support emergency communications systems, including allowing cell equipment to be installed on its buildings, reducing the need for monopoles in town. 

Contributions to important community organizations/initiatives 

Apart from its contributions to the municipality, Princeton University remains committed to supporting initiatives that enrich the quality of life in Princeton. The University has a long history of support for affordable housing. Over the years, the University has made cash and in-kind contributions to an array of local projects and nonprofit organizations. Also, the University has made, and continues to make, substantial in-kind and financial contributions to the Princeton Public Schools. 

Private roads and transit system maintained by the University and used by the public 

The University owns approximately five miles of private roads in the Municipality of Princeton, such as Faculty Road and College Road, which are open to the public. The University maintains them at its own cost, including providing snow removal. The University also operates the all-electric TigerTransit bus system, which is free and open to the public. 

Education and outreach 

As an educational institution, Princeton University offers numerous programs that welcome community members or are aimed primarily at area residents. Students at local high schools, including Princeton High School, can take coursework at the University; many different University initiatives provide tutoring to public school students; and the University runs a preparatory program for economically disadvantaged students in the area. A majority of the participants in the Community Auditing Program are Princeton residents, participating in University classes for a modest fee, and thousands more attend hundreds of free public lectures offered each year at the University. 

The Princeton University Art Museum, Richardson Auditorium and other campus venues host a wide variety of campus and community-based arts programs. The Lewis Center for the Arts, Princeton University Concerts, University Chapel, Music Department and various student groups offer performances that are open to the public year-round. The University owns the Garden Theater, which is operated by the non-profit Renew Theaters, and the Matthews and Berlind Theaters that are operated in cooperation with the non-profit McCarter Theater Center. 

Volunteer activity and civic engagement 

Princeton’s mission of teaching and research has an emphasis on service, and students volunteer with more than a dozen local community organizations. Some of this activity begins before they even take their first class at Princeton, through Community Action. The University has a long history of working with numerous organizations that seek to meet the needs of local residents and create a fully inclusive and supportive community. 

The following information provides detailed information on these and other contributions by the University to the community. 

Contributions to Princeton

Voluntary payments (calendar year basis)

• In 2024, Princeton University made voluntary contributions to the Municipality of Princeton totaling $10.8 million to the Municipality of Princeton.
  • This includes a $5.2 million unrestricted contribution, $300,000 to support municipal mass transit initiatives, $4 million for sewer infrastructure repairs, $100,000 for emergency housing support, $1 million towards the acquisition of fire and rescue equipment, and $200,000 to support costs related to career personnel for the Princeton Fire Department 
• In 2024, Princeton University made a voluntary contribution of $2.84 million to Princeton Public Schools.
  • This includes a $500,000 contribution to priorities identified in the district’s recent strategic planning process 

Taxes paid (calendar year basis)

• In 2024, Princeton University paid $8.8 million in property and sewer taxes to Princeton; Princeton University is the largest taxpayer in Princeton
• Of the $8.8 million property and sewer taxes paid, $3.1 million went to the Princeton Public Schools

The town’s AAA bond rating is partially based on the presence of Princeton University

• In rating the municipality, Moody’s notes that Princeton University “anchors the local economy, is the municipality’s largest taxpayer, and makes significant contributions to the municipality’s budget annually.” (Source: Moody’s Investors Service, Credit Opinion, Municipality of Princeton, NJ, 22 November 2023)

Contributions to community organizations/initiatives in 2024 included:

• 101:Fund
• Housing Initiatives of Princeton
• Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad
• Princeton Fire Department
• Watershed Institute
• Princeton Arts Council
• YWCA Princeton

Community Resources

• Garden Theater
  • The theater is owned by the University and operated by a separate non-profit organization, Renew Theaters.
• Labyrinth Books
  • The University helps to ensure there is an independent bookstore in Princeton. 
• Nassau East
  • The University owns and manages properties around 185 Nassau Street which house a variety of local businesses. 
• Princeton Station
  • The University maintains the Princeton Station complex that is served by the NJTransit Princeton to Princeton Junction “Dinky” rail line.
• The Garden Theater, Labyrinth Books, Princeton Station and the commercial and residential properties at Nassau East are all tax-paying properties. 

Police 

• The Princeton University Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Princeton Police Department (PPD) command staff meet to review issues and plan for upcoming town and/or University events. 
• Throughout the year PPD and DPS assist each other in criminal investigations and noncriminal cases. 
• PPD and DPS assist each other by providing services when additional assistance is requested, such as assistance in locating missing individuals, traffic control, traffic accidents, serving subpoenas, use of Spanish-speaking DPS officers for interview purposes, transportation from PPD to campus for students.  In 2024, DPS received and responded to ten such service requests from PPD. 
• During 2024, DPS requested the services of PPD for seven calls where their services were needed. 
• DPS filed 17 police cooperation reports with PPD in 2024. 
  • This type of report is filed when there is an interaction of any kind between PPD and DPS that is not investigated by DPS or does not result from a call into DPS jurisdiction. 
• Collaborative training 
  • PPD is invited to participate in, at no charge, DPS sponsored in-service training held on campus. 
  • In 2024, the PPD provided DPS with access to a virtual training system, on loan from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This advanced platform allowed officers to refine their decision-making and use-of-force skills through immersive, realistic scenario-based exercises. 
  • In the summer of 2024, DPS and PPD collaborated in specialized training hosted by the U.S. Secret Service, designed for municipal officers. The program emphasized the intricacies of planning and coordination required for dignitary protection and featured hands-on, scenario-based exercises to reinforce practical application 
  • In March and November 2024, Princeton Police attended Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) hosted by DPS on campus. This cooperative 40-hour course was offered through the CIT New Jersey Center of Excellence, and held in cooperation with the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, the Mercer County Division of Health, and the CIT-NJ Training Unit. 
• Upon request, DPS provides mutual aid to PPD for staffing large community events, protests, and demonstrations. In 2024, DPS requested the services of PPD six times for assistance with events, protests, and demonstrations. 
• In November 2024, DPS supported PPD during the HiTOPS Princeton Half Marathon by staffing multiple traffic control posts around the University and providing personnel to assist in managing their command center operations. 
• PPD extends an invitation to utilize their firing range to DPS. DPS has contributed funds towards improvements at the firing range and also provided funding for training equipment. 
• During 2024, DPS collaborated with PPD on one community event off-campus.  University staff participate in Princeton’s Local Emergency Preparedness Committee (LEPC).

Emergency Communication Systems

• Mercer County’s countywide public safety communications systems continue to be supported at Fine Hall.
• Equipment and antenna support for PPD, PFARS and PFD is located at Fine Hall.
• University technical resources support PPD on an as-requested basis with radio communications-related questions or issues around operations or new equipment. 

Princeton Fire Department (PFD)

• PFD Associate Member Program: University staff serve as PFD volunteers during the weekday from 8am to 4pm for which they are compensated by the University.
  • The program currently has 20 members in active status. 
  • Members responded to 35 calls in 2024. These responses were with full crews of at least three members. 
  • Members logged a total of approximately 180 hours in program activities that included response, training, and meetings. 
• DPS leadership has regular meetings with PFD leadership and the director of Emergency and Safety Services to discuss collaboration, operations, response and emergency management. 
• PFD responded to incidents on campus 69 times in 2024.
• PFD came to campus 12 times in 2024 for training. Training included walk-throughs at new University facilities. 
• Engine 66 from the Princeton University managed Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) responds regularly to Princeton for fire calls as mutual aid to the PFD. Those responses break down as follows.
• PPPL Engine 66 responded to Princeton for fire calls 135 times 
  • 69 of the 135 calls were to University facilities
• PPPL Engine 66 responded to Princeton for EMS calls 5 times
  • 2 of the 5 calls were to University facilities.

Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad (PFARS) 

• DPS leadership has regular meetings with PFARS leadership to discuss collaboration, operations, response and emergency management. 
• University students are active volunteer members of PFARS. 
• The University makes available parking on campus, with accessible power, for a PFARS ambulance to facilitate response by student volunteers. 
• The University hires, and compensates, PFARS for stand-by requests at University events. 
• PFARS responded to the campus 514 times for EMS calls. 

Cell towers 

• There are eight wireless cell towers on University buildings.

Public Roads

• The University maintains approximately five miles of roads in Princeton used by the public.

Transportation

• TigerTransit is “free and open to the public” and annually provides more than 575,000 passenger rides.
  • TigerTransit operations utilize 17 all-electric buses. 
• TigerAccess, a point-to-point reservable service for individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities, continues to provide about 20 rides per day and is available to the University community and campus visitors. 
• Princeton University participates in the Mercer County Coalition of Coordinated Transportation, a gathering of representatives from local municipalities, the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, and NJTransit. The Coalition is part of an effort to coordinate Human Service Transportation and public transportation services in Mercer County. 
• The TigerTransit network includes real-time, next-bus arrival screens at 13 stops. This information is also freely available through TripShot and the University’s mobile apps. 
• In 2024, the University expanded its Enterprise Carshare fleet as part of a broader suite of programs and services designed to support car-free life at the University. The fleet of 18 vehicles provides between 850 and 900 trips per month during the academic year. 
• The University continued to restriction operation, charging, and storage of all PEVs (e.g. electric scooters) on campus effective January, 2024. 

Resource Recovery Program (formerly known as Surplus Equipment Program)

• Access provided for area nonprofit organizations to the University Resource Recovery Program. Items provided free of charge to area nonprofits for their organizational use. 

Education Outreach

• Princeton High School (PHS) students who have exhausted coursework at the high school can take classes at the University; coordinated by PHS guidance department. 
• Tutoring for Princeton Public Schools students through Community House programs 
• Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP), a college prep program for economically disadvantaged students, is open to Princeton High School students 
• Princeton Science Outreach facilitates programs with local K-12 school districts, non-profit organizations, and community stakeholders 
• Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) hosts Science on Saturday lectures in the winter months (currently held virtually) 
• Cotsen Children’s Library Program for Teacher Preparation “Time Travel 101,” young writers mentorship program One to One, escape room and other resources available virtually for children up to age 12 
• Lectures with notable speakers are open to the public throughout the year. 

Community Auditing Program

• Approximately 50% of the program participants are from Princeton.
• The program includes special courses and lectures designed especially for auditors 

Cultural Offerings

• Princeton University Art Museum
  • Art@Bainbridge gallery 
  • Art on Hulfish gallery (closed January 2025) 
• Campus Art 
• Art Museum Store on Palmer Square 
• Provides a wide variety of free educational and family programming 
• Theaters
  • McCarter Theatre Center owned and financially supported by the University and operated by a separate, independent non-profit 
  • Theater Intime provides academic year programming open to area residents in Hamilton Murray Theater 
  • Additional theater, dance and visual arts programming available at other locations on campus, including 185 Nassau Street. 
• Musical Performance
  • Performances at Richardson Auditorium and Taplin Auditorium, many open to the public at no charge, featuring both Princeton University students and professional touring musicians. 
  • Summer Carillon Concerts at the Graduate College 
• Chapel
  • Weekly “After Noon Concert Series” organ concerts: a weekly opportunity for the Princeton Community to enjoy performances at the Princeton University Chapel by various local, national, and international organists. 
  • Monthly “Jazz Vespers” service: an inclusive experience of poetry, music, and quiet centering. 
  • Special performances sponsored by the Chapel Music program including organ concerts as well as performances featuring the University Chapel Choir and visiting musicians 
  • Veterans Day Observance Program in Princeton Chapel held in coordination with Spirit of Princeton 
  • Monthly “Sound Journey” event offers composed and improvised music for meditation, contemplation, and prayer. 
• Princeton University Concerts
  • Hosts annual music series featuring classical music performed by international professional musicians in Richardson Auditorium and across campus 
  • Admit All ticket access program provides heavily discounted or free tickets to low-income communities, including those who receive government assistance or live in subsidized housing 
  • The annual “Healing with Music” conversation/concert series has featured artists who have used music in facing health crisis; extended the impact of the Healing with Music series through a community art project 
  • Programming also includes Live Music Meditation series – free and open to the public; “Meet the Music” family concerts, including programs for neurodivergent audiences; “Do-Re-Meet: Social Events for Music Lovers”; and the Annual Chamber Jam inviting amateur musicians in the community to play music together. 
  • Music-related film screenings at the Princeton Garden Theatre 
  • Book discussions co-hosted by the Princeton Public Library, discussing books related to the topics, repertoire, and musicians represented in the PUC series 
  • Presented the North American premiere of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra’s experience in virtual reality and spatial sound, a groundbreaking way to experience classical music at the intersection of the arts and technology 
  • Free online library of music videos and conversations with musicians, and a “Collective Listening Project” of over 60 playlists curated for the public by prominent musical figures 
• Princeton University Library (PUL)
  • PUL exhibitions are free and open to the public. 
  • In the fall of 2024, PUL opened the “Monsters and Machines” exhibition in the Milberg Gallery in Firestone Library. Over the span of three months weeks, the exhibit attracted nearly 5,000 visitors and featured 31 public and private tours and classes. 
  • PUL continues to collaborate regularly with Princeton Public Library (PPL). In 2024, PUL and PPL established the All Access Book Discussion Club held at Firestone Library Special Collections, where the community discusses a book and examines items from the collection tied to themes in the selected. 

Community events on campus

• Four blood drives, open to donors from the community 
• Veteran’s Day Ceremony in Princeton Chapel hosted in coordination with Spirit of Princeton 
• Witherspoon Jackson Historical and Cultural Society’s Romus Broadway Photography Camp 

Worship

• Community members participate in Chapel services on a regular basis and on special occasions. 
• Community members also participate in services by religious groups associated with the University through chaplaincy programs and the Center for Jewish Life

Athletics

• Tickets to athletic events on campus are free or low-cost 
• Princeton student-athletes undertake numerous volunteer efforts through the Princeton Varsity Club and as teams including the popular “Reading with the Tigers” program at Princeton elementary schools 

Campus Dining

• Staff from Campus Dining produced and served a holiday meal in December at Cornerstone Kitchen. 
• Excess Class Day box lunches were donated to Cornerstone Kitchen following Commencement. 
• Campus Dining hosted two community Iftars during Ramadan. 
• Campus Dining chefs participate at the University Farmers Market, by providing a free sample of a healthy, sustainable treat from a local farm. 
• Chef Michael Gattis was a guest judge at the Princeton Middle School’s Food Systems Literacy cooking tournament. 
• Starting in Fall 2022, the University partnered with local dining establishments to launch Pay with Points. This initiative allows students and employees to use their dining plan on campus and at 15 restaurants in town. From January 2024- December 2024, the university community spent more than $340,000 at local businesses. 

Service and Civic Engagement 

• Through the Program for Community-Engaged Scholarship (ProCES) faculty and students integrate community engagement into their academic liberal arts experience by partnering community organizations and community leaders in more than 80 Princeton University ProCES courses during the academic year.
  • In the past year ProCES courses and programs included locally-based partnerships with: the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry, Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton Public Library, Historical Society of Princeton, The Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, Witherspoon Jackson Historical Society, Morven Museum & Gardens, Cornerstone Community Kitchen, YWCA Princeton’s English as a Second Language program, Municipality of Princeton, English as a Second Language at Princeton YWCA, Center for Modern Aging of Princeton, Arm in Arm, Social Circles, and Housing Initiative of Princeton. 
• The Community Service Interclub Council (CSICC), a collaborative initiative of the eating clubs, coordinates volunteer activities undertaken by the clubs with numerous local organizations 
• The Pace Center for Civic Engagement undertakes a wide variety of programming in the local community including:  Community Action: More than 650 first-year students led by 119 upperclassmen partnered with approximately 60 campus and community partners in the Community Action (CA) program. 
  • Fern Spruill, a long-time member of the Princeton community and former Community Partner-in-Residence, led CA students on tours of the community, providing an introduction to the history of the Black community in Princeton. 
  • Students with a focus on sustainability partnered with Friends of Princeton Open Space. 
  • Students focusing on healthcare partnered with Penn Medicine Princeton Health and Send Hunger Packing Princeton. 
  • Students interested in youth development programming partnered with the Princeton Nursery School and Princeton YMCA. 
• Community House: Community House programs provide academic and social-emotional literacy support services to the youth and families of Princeton.
  • Academic Success Today, a collaboration between Community House and Princeton's Department of Human Services, matched Princeton University student mentors with local youth participants at Princeton Middle School.
  • Volunteering at Princeton Nursery School 
  • Community House engaged in monthly community conversations with community partners to understand the current educational challenges and more effectively support youth in the community. 
• Student Volunteers Council (SVC)
  • CONTACT Princeton provides student volunteers to answer phone calls for a local crisis hotline and the national suicide hotline throughout Mercer County, including the Princeton community.
  • SVC continued to support the local Princeton community through the time, skills, knowledge and commitment of Princeton University student volunteers. 
  • Organizations supported include: Penn Medicine Princeton Health program, Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad (PFARS), Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP), Arm-in-Arm Princeton Food Pantry at Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton Alzheimer's Buddies at Maplewood at Princeton Assisted Living, Ballet & Books mentorship with the YMCA. 
• Summer Internships: Princeton University students participated in summer internships in the Princeton community through the RISE (Recognizing Inequities and Standing for Equality) and PICS (Princeton Internships in Civic Service) programs.  RISE interns learned from and completed projects with Art Against Racism, A4P, Homeworks Trenton, Lambent Data, Princeton Blairstown-Center, and internships associated with Princeton University departments. 
• PICS hosted interns with the following Princeton-based organizations: the Afghan Education Student Outreach Project, Center for Supportive Schools, Centurion, Housing Initiatives of Princeton, NJ Coalition to End Homelessness, Princeton AlumniCorps, Princeton in Africa, Princeton Summer Theater, Inc., Princeton University Art Museum, and The Melanin Village.

Community Engagement

• The Office of Community and Regional Affairs participates in community events throughout the year including Community Night Out and Trunk or Treat

• In partnership with the Municipality of Princeton Human Services Department the Office of Community and Regional Affairs coordinates with campus colleagues to support local youth by providing backpacks and supplies for the Back to School Backpack Drive and to provide internship positions on campus for the Summer Youth Employment Program 

• The Princeton University Farmers’ Market held in both the fall and spring brings local farm and food vendors to campus, giving small businesses the opportunity to sell their products to the campus and local community 

• Artists from campus and the community collaborated to create Blooming: A Fiber Arts Display, which adorned campus and town in fiber artwork in May 2024.