Princeton’s Annual Giving campaign raises record-setting $74.9 million

Princeton University’s 2016-17 Annual Giving campaign raised $74,912,035, with 56.8 percent of undergraduate alumni participating. This historic achievement — Princeton’s first-ever Annual Giving campaign in excess of $70 million — represents strong performances across all of Princeton’s constituencies: undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni, parents and friends.

“This year's Annual Giving results are truly extraordinary,” said President Christopher L. Eisgruber. “Unrestricted funds play a vital role in sustaining Princeton’s teaching and research mission and its commitment to meet the full financial need of our talented students. I am deeply grateful to our many volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and to our alumni, parents and friends for their steadfast and ever-generous support of Princeton.”

The Class of 1967, with a participation rate of 81.2 percent, raised the greatest amount — $11,006,767 — the highest total ever for a 50th Reunion class and an all-time record for any class. Four other major Reunion classes set new records: the Class of 1987, which broke the 30^th Reunion record with $10,001,987; the Class of 1982, which raised $5,106,082 in celebration of its 35^th Reunion; the 65^th Reunion Class of 1952, which raised $1,795,382 and reached 72.2 percent participation; and the Class of 2007, which raised $492,007 to set a new 10^th Reunion record along with a participation rate of 70.6 percent.

The 25^th Reunion Class of 1992 finished with $9,646,292, the second-highest total ever for a 25^th Reunion class. Four other major Reunion classes raised more than $1 million: 1977 with $3,348,966; 1997 with $2,628,397; 1972 with $2,291,887; and 1962 with $1,472,221.

For the sixth consecutive year, graduate alumni raised more than $1.5 million, with $1,684,413, from 2,862 donors. Princeton parents gave more than $2 million for the tenth year in a row, contributing $2,666,914 to the total.

The Class of 1958 raised the highest total among non-major Reunion classes, with $844,793; six other non-major Reunion classes recorded totals of $500,000 or more.

This year’s highest participation rate belongs to the Class of 1937, which achieved 100 percent, with its single remaining member making a gift to Annual Giving. That was followed by the Class of 1967, which reached 81.2 percent on the occasion of its 50th Reunion; and the Class of 1963, which achieved 77.5 percent. Fifteen other classes recorded participation rates of 65 percent or higher.

The youngest ten classes averaged 62 percent participation. The Class of 2017, the University’s newest alumni, achieved a pledge rate of 92.1 percent, with 1,184 of its members pledging to support Annual Giving for the next four years.

“The continued success of Annual Giving is the result of the commitment, efforts and enthusiasm of our remarkable volunteers together with the generosity and loyalty of our alumni, parents and friends,” said Louise S. “Weezie” Sams, a member of the Class of 1979, who is completing her three-year term as chair of Annual Giving. “It is the incredible breadth and depth of support that sustains the foundation of excellence at Princeton. Each and every gift makes a tangible difference in the lives of today’s students.”

Unrestricted gifts to Annual Giving go directly into the operating budget for the benefit of Princeton’s students and faculty. These flexible funds provide Princeton’s “margin of excellence,” allowing the University to seize new intellectual opportunities, respond to unexpected challenges and support a pioneering financial aid program that makes a Princeton education possible for all admitted students. Learn more at http://giving.princeton.edu/ag.