Giving to Tufts this year stayed strong and steady, as many smaller gifts — along with some notable contributions — helped Tufts continue to maintain and improve its financial standing.
The university as of May 13 had raised more than approximately $1.07 billion. As a result, the Beyond Boundaries capital campaign, which on Jan. 31 reached the $1.05 billion mark, is expected to have raised $1.1 billion by June 30, the end of this fiscal year.
"This year was less about blockbuster gifts," Senior Editor of Communications for University Advancement Laura Ferguson said. "Philanthropy is still continuing, though, and this year we're focusing on overall momentum."
This theme of maintaining momentum carried through to the Tufts Student Fund (TSF), a fundraising campaign — now in its second year — that is aimed at giving students the opportunity to benefit their community.
"We don't expect students to contribute a lot, but with this program, it's really nice that any contribution of any size makes a difference," Director of the Tufts Fund for Arts, Sciences and Engineering (AS&E) Melissa White said. "It's about students coming together to help other students."
Two anonymous alumni this year stepped up to pledge $50 to financial aid for every student donation to the fund in the hopes of encouraging student participation and increasing the amount raised.
"There were two alumni … both of whom heard about the success of the program last year and were really impressed and touched that even in such tough economic times, students got together to do something," White said. "So they agreed to match every student gift with $50, regardless of where the gift went or how much it was."
Tufts students this year contributed $12,287 to the university, with 813 undergraduates making gifts, according to White.
"Having an alumni match student gifts helps students really feel like they're contributing," White said. "Students don't have the money to donate a lot, but they like to feel like they're doing something."
White noted that although TSF this year raised less overall than last year — partially because the Tufts Community Union Senate's Cause Dinner in November of last year raised funds for TSF — donations were still making an impact.
One of the notable gifts of the year was Kathryn Chenault's (J '77) pledge of $1.5 million to support the Kathryn Cassell Chenault 2010 Scholarship Fund, which will be distributed over five years to benefit undergraduate students in the Schools of AS&E.
"The Chenault gift is for general financial aid," Ferguson said. "It's an important gift for continuing our support of financial aid."
The Perry & Martin Granoff Family Foundation, Inc. this year donated $2 million to the school, with $1 million going toward the Granoff Music Center. This donation brings the Granoffs' lifetime giving to $10 million and demonstrates Martin Granoff's continuing support.
"This gift shows that he's staying involved," Ferguson said. "He's very loyal; we still have a positive relationship with him."
A planned gift of approximately $2 million will endow the John and Alma Wilkinson-Heap Scholarship at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. The gift consists of a commitment under a revocable trust, along with the proceeds of IRA and brokerage accounts.
The gift will also support The Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals at the Cummings School.
Vice President for University Advancement Brian Lee expressed his gratitude for the continued generosity of all the donors.
"We are deeply grateful to the alumni, parents, friends, students and countless other donors who have given so generously to Tufts this year," Lee said in a statement.
Lee noted that all of these gifts have had a real impact on the Tufts community.
"The challenging economic environment heightens the value and impact of each and every gift," Lee said. "From strengthened financial aid and faculty recruitment packages to improved facilities and laboratories, [the Beyond Boundaries] campaign is truly transforming Tufts. The loyalty, trust and generosity of our donors continue to strengthen Tufts' commitment to attract and retain the very best students and faculty."
The impact of donors' giving could be seen in a tangible way this year with the completion of some major capital projects, according to Ferguson.
These included the dedication of a five-floor expansion at the School of Dental Medicine, the renovation of the Sackler Center and the creation of a Clinical Skills and Simulation Center at the Tufts University School of Medicine and the dedication of a 173-seat auditorium and an Equine Isolation Unit at the Cummings School.
