Tufts Telefund has recently relocated to a newly renovated space where supervisors hope to break last year's record-setting fundraising campaign.
Telefund is the organization that runs the "phonathon," a fundraising campaign that calls alumni and other friends of the University, to raise money for the Tufts Annual Fund.
Last year, the phonathon raised $2.3 million for Tufts. The goal this year is to raise $2.5 million.
Telefund moved from the second floor of Packard Hall, described by Program Manager D.J. Stevens as "cramped and stuffy," to the recently-renovated basement.
The new office space is larger and more spacious, according to sophomore Telefund employee Jordan Chiu. "The basement is a much nicer space," he said.
One drawback of the new space is poor acoustics, a major issue for an office whose business is talking, Chiu said.
"When there is a full session, it can be quite hard to hear the person to whom you are talking," Chiu said. "[But] it is a definite improvement."
According to employees, the office switch will make Telefund more effective in addition to being more comfortable for employees.
"Because the new space is so much more open, it allows much more interaction between the management staff," Stevens said. "This increase in interaction allows us to work more closely with new callers to help them develop their persuasive skills."
Employees are confident that under these new circumstances, Telefund will be able to surpass last year's record-breaking phonathon and reach the goal of $2.5 million.
Stevens said any improvement in Telefund's performance is ultimately good for the University as a whole, including the student body.
The money raised by Telefund not only "helps boost the school's rankings by increasing alumni participation ... [it also] raises money for financial aid, scholarships and student resources," Stevens said.
Positions at Telefund are some of the highest paying on campus. "During the peak hiring time [Telefund is] deluged with applicants," Stevens said.
"We have students of all backgrounds and interests working here. Not only do we have undergraduates, but we have grad students that work with us as well," Stevens said. "It always is a positive thing when a veteran caller can include on a resume that they personally raised thousands of dollars for their alma mater."
