The Rutgers University Foundation is the fund-raising arm of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The Rutgers Foundation was incorporated in 1973 to support the university in obtaining private funds to meet important needs for which adequate monies may not be available from state, federal, or other sources. Scholarship and fellowship support for undergraduate and graduate students is essential, and academic programs seek the extra margin of excellence that only private giving can provide.

The professional staff of the Rutgers Foundation has helped the university`s faculty, administration, and staff raise well over a half-billion dollars since its incorporation 29 years ago. Private fund-raising in the 2000-2001 fiscal year totaled $123,302,686, an all-time yearly high.

Rutgers is now embarked on a major universitywide campaign to raise $500 million by June 2004 and is well on its way toward reaching that goal. "The Rutgers Campaign: Creating the Future Today" is designed to advance Rutgers` academic growth as one of the nation`s top public universities. The purposes of the campaign include attracting and supporting the best students, ensuring a superior academic program, advancing the quest for knowledge, recruiting and retaining top faculty, enriching the campus and community environments, and providing outstanding facilities and equipment.

The Rutgers Foundation staff provides information about the full range of giving opportunities to donors and prospective donors, including individuals, corporations, and foundations. The staff also cultivates donors and potential donors through a variety of activities, helps donors make sound choices on how to give and the designation choices available to them, and ensures that they are properly thanked for their gifts. Fund-raising officers are also based in many of the university`s schools and colleges and work very closely with the foundation.

Persons interested in making contributions to any unit of the university or to Rutgers as a whole may do so by writing a check payable to the Rutgers University Foundation. The check should be accompanied by a brief note stating the designation of the donation and whom the gift is from. Checks should be mailed to: Accounting Department, Rutgers University Foundation, 7 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1261.

More information about private giving to Rutgers may be obtained from the Rutgers University Foundation, Winants Hall, 7 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1261 (732/932-7777).