Give together, grow together

Starting the school year with a record-setting freshman class, the College is now setting its sights on breaking fundraising records.

The Office of Development and Alumni Affairs has officially launced Target 10,000, the most ambitious and critically important alumni initiative in our College’s history, with a goal to reach 10,000 charitable gifts this fiscal year. The effort, which focuses on Web-based fund campaigning, is driven by Target 10,000’s interactive and user-friendly Web site: www.tcnj.edu/~alumni/donate/ttt/

Last fiscal year marked an 18 percent increase in alumni participation from the previous year, or approximately 4,500 donations.

"Alumni from every generation have always had a tremendous impact on the College, but today, more than ever, their support sustains the future of our institution,” said John Marcy, vice president of development and alumni Affairs.

The Web-based initiative is one of the first of its kind, following the success of the College’s first effort to fundraise on the Internet last year with the brick campaign, which allowed alumni/ae to donate to the College online and set a personalized engraved brick in the Alumni Grove outside of the new library. 

Directors for the campaign feel that the accessibility of the new Web site will pave the way for the substantial increase in donations.

"More alumni are turning to the Web every day to donate,” said Diana Lygas, director of annual giving for the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. “The site is dynamic, and more features will be added throughout the year. It will offer alumni a chance to engage one another while giving online.” 

While, according to Lygas, the goal may be “lofty,” the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs is optimistic that the ambitions will be met. The period for the campaign will run until June 30, 2007, and gifts can range from one dollar to $10,000. 

"Target 10,000 is about the cumulative effect people can have when they give together and support each other,” Lygas said.