Campaign FAQs

We are are excited to get our 10th Reunion campaign for Annual Giving underway. This page addresses questions about what Annual Giving is and how individual contributions impact the experiences of students at the University every day.

Is this the same thing as our Endowment?

No! Think of Princeton’s endowment as the funding essentials—it supports the core operations budget that keeps the university running smoothly. These are restricted funds, designated for specific purposes according to donor instructions to help build and operate buildings, labs, and libraries; recruit faculty, defray student needs, and support scholarships & fellowships. They don’t cover all the activities and opportunities that are part of the student experience. That’s where Annual Giving comes in! 

Annual Giving dollars are unrestricted, flexible, and immediately usable. Think of it as a “possibilities budget” —  it’s the additional money that lets Princeton offer the programs, experiences, and initiatives that enrich student life beyond the classroom. Each year, alumni contribute roughly $60-70 million to Annual Giving, helping students benefit from opportunities that wouldn’t be possible with the endowment alone.

In short, the endowment keeps things steady, and Annual Giving lets Princeton dream bigger.

Does AG fund the construction of new buildings?

Annual Giving money does not fund campus expansion projects. These are enabled in part through capital (restricted) funds and are separate from alumni donations to AG.

What does AG fund?

Annual Giving directly supports countless aspects of student life and academics. 

Here are some examples of the major ways this money is put to important use:

  • Academic Support

    • Recruit and pay top-in-field professors and researchers

    • Funding independent student research (thesis or junior paper funding)

  • Financial Aid

    • 69% of students in the Class of 2029 receive financial aid. Most students from families with incomes up to $250,000 to cover the full cost of tuition.

    • Among recent seniors, 90% graduated debt-free.

    • The average grant is more than $80,000, which is greater than the price of tuition. No student pays the full cost of attending Princeton

    • See more here

  • Student Experience & Service

    • The LENS Program (Learning and Education through Service) has supported more than 245 students with paid service and social impact internships, launched through the vital unrestricted funds raised through Annual Giving

Do our Class Dues have anything to do with this?

Also no! Class dues are simply a $25 annual fee we collect from classmates that help our class to:

  • Pay the Alumni Council, which is responsible for the governance of our Alumni Association and includes leaders from all alumni volunteer committees.

    • If you’ve ever attended a regional event, Reunions, read PAW, or been a member of an alumni association, it is organized by the Alumni Council.

  • Cover the cost of our class events.

Dues keep our class and alumni network running. Annual Giving supports the University and its students.

I already made a gift in the spring. Why am I getting emails again?

Princeton’s Annual Giving cycle runs from September to June 30 following the academic calendar. For example, if you made a gift in the spring of 2025, that counted towards the 2024-2025 campaign. 


The 10th Reunion (2025-2026) campaign started in July 2025 and will continue until June 30, 2026.

How can I get involved?

We would absolutely love to have you join the effort! More volunteers means more personal and collective outreach and more fun.

You can reach out to our AG liaison, Vanyah Harrigan, at vharrigan@princeton.edu. 

Or, if you know any classmates already volunteering, feel free to message them directly.