Rutgers University-Newark can anticipate an exciting “future ...brimming with hope,” thanks to the record generosity of donors whose gifts are already impacting numerous lives.
Those are the words of Chancellor Nancy Cantor at the completion of the nearly eight-year “Our Rutgers, Our Future” campaign, which ended in December 2014. The campaign was the most successful in Rutgers history, raising $1.037 billion, and part of that success is a record-setting $109,517,988 raised specifically for Rutgers University-Newark to support academic programs, faculty and student research, student support, and facilities. Alumni were a huge source of this financial support, with donations totaling $42 million. Other gifts came from foundations and corporations, friends, faculty, staff, and administrators.
The campaign “raised funds for priorities for the schools and colleges, as well as many university-wide initiatives,” stated Irene O’Brien, vice chancellor for development. “The campaign also helped us to build momentum for the future, raising the profile of Rutgers University-Newark as we look ahead to helping achieve the goals of our strategic plan.”
Giving during the campaign has already had a major impact, and will continue to do so thanks to a number of endowed gifts that support scholarships and endowed chairs. Specific areas of impact include:
- $24 million to support undergraduate and graduate students, including scholarship, fellowship, and research support. One such gift provides $1 million for financial assistance for students in the Honors College, courtesy of Eileen Newman, NCAS ’65, in memory of her husband, RU-N alumnus Arthur B. Newman, NCAS ’65, RBSG ’66);
- More than $59 million support for faculty and research support, including funding to create four new endowed chairs, more than doubling the existing number of endowed chairs at RU-N. These new chairs are the Prudential Chair in Business, the Paul V. Profeta Chair in Real Estate, the George F. Farris Chair in Entrepreneurship, and the Elizabeth H. Solomon Chair in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience;
- More than $13 million for facilities, including a number of gifts to help support the renovation and expansion of 1 Washington Park, which houses Rutgers Business School in Newark, and, and an anonymous $10 million gift toward the construction of 100 Rock, which houses Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick;
- More than $12 million for numerous other initiatives and programs throughout the university.
Some of the key gifts included $4 million in grants from the Ford and Sunshine Lady foundations to fund NJ-STEP, which provides college courses to people in prison and works to enroll them upon release, as well as $1.5 million from Albert and Janice Gamper for an endowed scholarship for Rutgers University-Newark students. Albert Gamper (University College-Newark, Class of 1966) was one of the co-chairs of the campaign.
“Through their record-setting financial support, our donors are saying they recognize our academic excellence and are committed to both our ongoing mission and our strategic vision for the future,” states O’Brien. Future fund-raising efforts will build on this momentum, supporting these strategic goals: increasing post-secondary attainment for Newark students; helping to develop and support strong, healthy, and safe neighborhoods; promoting and leveraging the arts and culture; using science to enhance the urban environment; and encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship and economic development. RU-N also will continue its efforts to secure more support for its students.