Tufts' Capital Campaign is forging new connections with alumni and strengthening existing ones to retain its momentum, members of the administration said.
The campaign has thus far amassed $615 million, nearly half of the target amount of $1.2 billion.
In the first four quiet years of the campaign, Tufts raised 45 percent of the projected goal. Brian Lee, Vice President for University Advancement, said that the public phase of the Beyond Boundaries campaign, officially announced Nov. 11, is scheduled to run for five years, ending in 2011.
"We are confident we will achieve our financial goal," Lee said.
The administration also hopes that former Jumbos will play a significant role in ensuring its future.
According to Jo Wellings, Deputy Director of Development, Tufts will use its existing alumni networks in both the United States and in Europe to help get the word out about the campaign.
"Regional alumni events will take Beyond Boundaries messages to the Tufts communities in L.A., New York, London and elsewhere," Betsey Jay, Director of University Advancement Communications and Donor Relations, told the Daily in an e-mail.
A wide range of resources are in place to help this happen.
"Campaign materials have been prepared to highlight the university's mission, its accomplished faculty and outstanding students, along with its aspirations. There are publications, a video, a photo exhibit, and a Web site," Jay said.
Tufts will also take advantage of the Internet, using a "compelling campaign video produced by two Tufts alumnae that presents what Tufts is through interviews, endorsements, and gorgeous footage," Wellings said.
Alumnae contribute largely through the Tufts Fund, which allows donations of all sizes to be used within a framework of priorities determined by Dean of Arts and Sciences Robert Sternberg and Dean of Engineering Linda Abriola.
"The contributions to the Tufts Fund and all annual fund gifts for all Tufts' schools [and] colleges since July 1, 2002 will count in the campaign," Jay said.
While any amount of money is accepted, those who contribute above $1,000 become part of the Packard Society, a membership group supporting Tufts. Donors can enter the Packard Society at the Ivory Tusk level, whereby recent alums pledge to donate $100 for each year that has passed since graduation.
Further strengthening alumnae bonds to Tufts is the Senior Gift program, which encourages seniors to participate in the Tufts Fund before leaving the university.
Eric C. Johnson, Executive Director of Development, explains that over the last two years the Tufts community has participated in a strategic planning process to determine and prioritize the needs of the University as they reflect student and faculty opinion.
"Led by Provost Jamshed Bharucha and facilitated by the schools' deans, this process was inclusive and transpired and successfully built consensus and a unified vision of the campaign's agenda," Johnson said.
Donors, however, do have some say in the use of their money.
"Donors designate how and where their gifts are used," Jay said. "Generally, major gift agreements are arrived at after considerable discussion with the donor about their interests as well as the university's strategic initiatives."
Examples of such major gift agreements include notable alums such as Trustees Pierre and Pam Omidyar (A '88 and J '89) who created the Omidyar-Tufts Microfinance Fund with a $100 million donation and Emeritus William S. Cummings (A '58) who gave a $50 million naming gift to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
Jonathan M. Tisch (A '76) recently gave a $40 million naming gift for the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service.
