Participation by undergraduate alumni increases slightly from last year to 47.5%, led by the Class of 1963

Members of the Class of 1963 hold signs as they march in the 2023 P-rade
The Class of 1963, with several members shown at the P-rade in May, had the highest participation rate in the 2022-23 Annual Giving Campaign.
Beverly Schaefer
Princeton’s Annual Giving campaign raised $73.8 million, the third-highest total in history, exceeding its goal of $70 million. Participation by undergraduate alumni nosed up slightly, to 47.5%, but fell short of 50% for the fourth consecutive year. More than 37,000 donors participated in the campaign, which ended on June 30.

Several classes set individual giving records, led by the 25th reunion Class of 1998, which raised $9.3 million, the sixth-highest total ever for a 25th reunion class and the largest amount by any class this year. They were followed by the Class of 1993, celebrating its 30th reunion, which raised $7.9 million. The Class of 1963 raised $3.5 million, a record for a 60th reunion class, while the Class of 1973 raised $6 million, its highest total as a class.

Classes leading in participation were the Class of 1963 (75.5%), the Class of 1968 (69.1%), the Class of 1972 (66.8%, highest for a non-major reunion), and the Class of 1998 (66.1%). In all, 10 classes had participation rates of 60% or higher, and 28 others had rates of 50% or higher.

In addition, graduate alumni raised nearly $2.3 million, the sixth consecutive year in which they have raised more than $2 million. Princeton parents contributed $1.8 million.

“Each year Princetonians come together around Annual Giving to show our support for current and future students and for the traditions of excellence that are so meaningful to us all,” Chris Olofson ’92, chair of the Annual Giving Committee, wrote in an email. “This year’s results are extraordinary.”

Last year’s campaign generated a record $81.8 million, $13 million more than in 2021, with a participation rate of 47.4%. In June's issue, PAW examined how annual giving at Princeton and universities around the country has been changing in recent years.