Almost a year after its official launch, Beyond Boundaries, Tufts' ongoing capital campaign, is well on the way to reaching its goal.
As of Sept. 30, the fundraising effort has brought in $690 million, according to Central Development Programs Director Christopher Simoneau. The goal is to raise $1.2 billion.
"We're on pace or even slightly ahead of the pace we had set," Vice President of University Advancement Brian Lee said.
According to Lee and Simoneau, signs of Beyond Boundaries' success can be seen throughout all of Tufts' campuses.
Sophia Gordon Hall and the Perry and Marty Granoff Music Center both benefited from campaign funds.
The upcoming construction of the campus center at the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences and the construction of the Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center at the Medford and Somerville campus will also draw from the Beyond Boundaries coffers.
Dr. Steven Jaharis (M '87) and his father Michael Jaharis have committed $15 million for the first project, and Tisch (A '71) has promised $10 million for the second.
Some of the campaign's results have been less tangible, however, such as the funding of internships in the non-profit sector and financial aid for summer session students, according to Director of Public Relations Kim Thurler.
One of the main goals of the campaign is to attract quality faculty and students to the university, Lee said. A number of faculty members have already been brought into the Tufts community through campaign benefits such as endowed professorships.
In addition, the fundraising made it possible for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to provide $3.2 million more in financial aid for students this year than the previous year, as the Daily reported earlier this semester.
"We continue to move closer and closer to becoming a need-blind [institution]," Simoneau said. "We're not there yet, but we have a tremendous amount of supporters who believe in that."
Becoming need-blind remains the primary goal of the campaign. The biggest obstacle to overcome, however, is the issue of sustainability.
While gifts may be given each year toward financial aid, they are "expendable support" rather than permanent funds, according to Lee. "Ideally, [we will] create an endowment that will give additional millions each year," he said.
Although the goal of achieving need-blind status "resonates the most" with alumni, Lee said that there have been "strong responses" to the entire campaign, particularly through an eager involvement from trustees and young alums.
Before the campaign's official Nov. 4, 2006 launch, it had existed quietly since July, 2002. During this period, trustees contributed around $300 million, many through large donations including $100 million from Pierre and Pamela Omidyar (LA '88 and LA '89, respectively).
This made up part of the $615 million raised during the quiet phase.
At this point, Simoneau estimates that trustees are responsible for about $325 million of the total funds raised, almost half of all contributions.
In terms of young alumni, Lee said that he is always looking for ways to get them involved. Some recent graduates have promoted this goal through the creation of the group Young Friends of Tufts Advancement.
Director of Advancement Communications and Donor Relations Christine Sanni found it "interesting for young alums to get that involved," since it is more typical for fundraising campaigns to depend on donors who are older and "more established."
To encourage further participation from them and other alums, the university distributed a 14-minute film to potential donors. All incoming freshmen this year also received it.
The film, which Lee called "one of the chief assets" of the campaign, was made by twin sisters Nancy Stern and Lisa Lax (both LA '86). It emphasizes the idea that Beyond Boundaries will support active citizenship, citing examples of endeavors of alums and faculty members.
"So many schools are talking about active citizenship," Simoneau said. "We're actually doing it."
Getting the word out about the campaign has been a constant and sweeping effort. Immediately after the official unveiling in Boston in November, there were internal launches across the university's individual schools, and about a dozen launches in different cities, including London, San Francisco, Palm Beach and New York.
The effort will not cease until all the money has been raised. According to Lee, the goal is to get there by 2011.
