From the Nominator

Nearing its 50th anniversary, Stockton University recognized that alumni and friends experienced Stockton in vastly different ways over five decades of growth and change. The annual giving strategy needed to reflect and honor the values and diverse experiences of our alumni and friends, be a vehicle to share the deepening community impact, engage our students, and reiterate the University's mission to put “Students First.” Giving trends and behaviors were researched for all generations. Current students as well as alumni across the decades were featured, original and new campus locations celebrated, and the importance of campus and community partners highlighted using an omnichannel approach. Personalized thank you video messages were sent, as well as video solicitations. While the primary goal to increase alumni and non-alumni giving was realized in both dollars raised and gift count, equally important were our goals to create unity and pride across the generations, steward our donors, engage current students, and create campaigns that were creative, meaningful, and memorable.

From the Judges

Stockton University embraced the diversity of its alumni and donor base, and individuals’ varied relationships with the institution, to create an annual giving strategy that engaged alumni and friends, celebrated the institution’s community impact, involved students, and reiterated the institution’s mission. The reimagined annual giving strategy involved alumni and friends across generations, creating unity and pride. A strong case for giving and a renewed focus on the institutional giving day were also key foundations of this successful program. As a result of these initiatives, Stockton increased donors from 27 to 112, and donations from $1,395 to $20,169. We congratulate Stockton University on this creative and engaging annual giving program.