TCNJ

e College of New Jersey ANNUAL REPORT 2018–2019 THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY FOUNDATION This past year has been one of new beginnings and, for me, the close of a chapter: the college welcomed its 16th president, and I completed my term as chair of the executive board of The College of New Jersey Foundation. Over the course of three college presidents, I've had the pleasure of watching — and taking part in — the transformation of both the institution and the foundation. Most notably, we've grown the foundation's assets from $4.5 million in 1999 to over $54 million today. We didn't get to this moment by accident. The volunteers who make up the foundation board have been generous with their time and treasure, their extraordinary skill sets, and above all their continual belief in the college. It has been a pleasure to work alongside these committed professionals — who over the years have become friends — in our shared goal of furthering the college's success and ensuring its capacity to deliver a high-quality educational experience in a highly supportive and collaborative way. People often ask me, "Why TCNJ?" I'm not an alumnus, nor do I have children who attended the school. But my longtime affiliation is because I believe so strongly in the college's mission and the foundation's demonstrated ability to help give young people such a strong start to their academic careers. Providing that strong start takes a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes, guided by strong leadership and a relentless pursuit of excellence. TCNJ's continued investment in attracting and hiring talented development professionals to lead its fundraising efforts has been instrumental to the success we've enjoyed during my time on the board, including the college's first-ever comprehensive campaign that netted over 13,000 donors contributing more than $47.5 million in five years. This unprecedented success favorably positions the foundation for another major fundraising campaign in the near future. As I close the chapter on my time with the foundation board and open the next as a member of The College of New Jersey Board of Trustees. I look forward to seeing the endowment exceed the $100 million mark. I look toward an extraordinary future for TCNJ, knowing that the work we've done has strengthened our reputation as an exemplar in public higher education — one that donors consistently choose as a meaningful investment. Last year was a banner year for TCNJ. We commemorated our rich history, celebrated the installation of a new president, and continued our work to ensure the college's bright future as a national exemplar in public higher education. Academically talented students continue to enroll thanks to financial assistance from the TCNJ Foundation. Last year over 500 students received scholarship support, and that work continues this year with the students you see on the facing page. They are some of the 50 students who were matched with 50 donors over the course of 50 days leading up to the start of the 2019–20 academic year. These pairings created new bonds that strengthen the TCNJ community and demonstrate the power of philanthropic giving. The foundation's fundraising success pushed its assets over $54 million, with philanthropic support exceeding our goal by 9.1 percent to total $8.1 million. This includes 14 new endowments — totaling $3.2 million — established to fund scholarships and other programs. Additionally, more than $5.7 million was expended in support of scholarships and a full range of academic and cocurricular activities. Proper management and stewardship of the endowment are among the foundation's highest priorities. Our team of experienced industry professionals are ardent supporters of TCNJ's mission and are committed to strategically stewarding the foundation's investments. I invite you to read more about the foundation's investment strategies and portfolio performance on page 30. Lastly, I want to thank Allen Silk for his strong leadership and dedication during his term as foundation board chair. We are honored to benefit from his continued commitment to TCNJ as a member of the Board of Trustees. Here's to continuing our strong tradition of excellence and igniting our future with the help of generous philanthropic support. Allen M. Silk, Esq. Chair Dear Friends of TCNJ, John P. Donohue Executive Director

• Cover