What is the Annual Fund?

The Annual Fund is the foundation of the Saint Joseph's College fundraising program, and a significant factor in balancing our operating budget. Saint Joseph's depends on annual gifts to bridge the gap between operational expenses and income from tuition, fees and other sources.

These contributions come from a variety of sources including alumni, trustees, friends, businesses, foundations and faculty and staff.

Why Give to the Annual Fund?

There are so many reasons to give - here is just a few:

• Changing the life of a student is a great return on investment.
• Alumni giving rates affect college rankings and a higher ranking makes your Saint Joseph's degree more valuable.
• Your gift - regardless of size- attracts gifts from others and makes a strong statement about your college.
• Saint Joseph's depends on annual giving support to bridge the gap between enrollment and endowment dollars and the true cost to educate our students.
• You want to give back to Saint Joe's because Saint Joe's has given so much for you!

Where do Annual Fund contributions go?

Your investment directly benefits each and every student at Saint Joseph's. Specifically, your 2009-2010 Annual Fund gift directly supports:

• Student scholarships and aid - 90% of students receive some form of financial aid.
• Faculty support: We continually expand our faculty to enrich the course offerings on campus and continue to attract the best and brightest faculty.
• Academic resources to keep the arts and science disciplines current.
• Campus developments to provide students with an exceptional place to live and learn.
• Technology to keep our on-campus and distance education students current and interactive. 
• Mission based learning: Rooted in and professing fidelity to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the doctrines and heritage of the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Joseph's College, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, is a liberal arts college that nurtures intellectual, spiritual and social growth in students of all ages and all faiths within a value-centered environment. We support, and challenge our students' academically, spiritually and socially. This provides an environment for them to succeed in all aspects of their education and lives.

How much should I give?

You should base your decision on your own charitable interests and your financial capacity. No gift is too small. Your gift - regardless of size - attracts gifts from others and makes a strong statement about our College. It's your participation in the effort that matters!

Can my gift support a specific department or be in memory or honor of someone?

Donors to the Annual Fund may opt to make unrestricted gifts or may designate their gift to a chosen area including a specific program, scholarship, initiative such as campus ministry, athletic program, etc. Giving is a personal decision and we want you to be passionate about your choice. That is why annual fund gifts can be restricted for any current use identified by the donor.

Gifts in memory or honor of someone can be given and will be recognized as such.

Donors also have the ability to make gift anonymously.

Why is Percentage of Participation Important?

High participation in the Annual Fund is an important way for us to demonstrate the commitment and dedication of our college community. It is not only the total dollar amount raised that is important, but also the percentage of the constituency who participate.

A large source of funding is from our loyal corporations and foundations that support Saint Joseph's with grant and scholarship support. These groups want to see strong loyalty from individuals within the school community before they make an institutional contribution. The most important measure that is used to evaluate community-wide support for the college is the percentage of individuals who participate in the annual fund. Thus, when considering participation levels, a $10 gift is just as valuable as a $10,000 gift because both gifts contribute to a higher percentage of participation.