I know Suffolk is celebrating its Centennial, but why is Suffolk also conducting such a large capital campaign?

All of us are very proud of Suffolk’s history and its tradition of institutional self-reliance. However, for Suffolk to continue to develop its campus and serve the needs of its faculty and students, the University will need philanthropic capital to supplement tuition revenues, to provide funding for new programs, to build endowment to create a strong future, and to continue to invest in new campus facilities.  While the Centennial Year is merely a celebration, Suffolk’s leadership and advancement staff have worked hard to be ready to announce a campaign in the Centennial Year, since such an important occasion provides an opportunity for Suffolk to do special outreach, and, in turn, to receive special attention, not only from its alumni and friends, but also from others who can be drawn to Suffolk’s mission and program.

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What are the goals of the Campaign?

The Campaign has an overall goal of $75 million, of which more than $40 million has already been raised.  The total of $75 million will be used to help build endowment for faculty support and for student financial aid; provide funds for new facilities; and raise ongoing unrestricted support, mainly through Suffolk’s Annual Fund. Learn more about the Campaign’s four cornerstones here.

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Does the Campaign reflect a change in Suffolk’s approach to its budget?

Suffolk has maintained a balanced budget every year for more than four decades.  That has not changed.  However, the President and Board are concerned that unless Suffolk develops alternative sources of revenue, the University’s rate of tuition will continue to increase—which could compromise our historic commitment to provide access to students from every kind of background or threaten the intimate relationship between faculty and students that has been a proud strength of the University since its founding.

Building endowment and increasing voluntary philanthropy are key strategies for helping to hold the line on tuition increases and to protect the high level of financial aid that the University is currently providing to worthy students.  Fund-raising and philanthropy are the one area where Suffolk has not been competitive with other institutions.  The new campaign is a first major step on the road to achieving more active philanthropic support.

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Does Suffolk have the alumni base to reach its goal?

Suffolk has never been an “elite” school attracting wealthy families—and we’re proud of that. Many of Suffolk’s graduates serve our communities in fields such as education, government, and other forms of public service. Given our history, it’s natural to question whether Suffolk has the alumni base to sustain an ambitious Campaign.

However, true to the Suffolk character, our broad community of alumni are coming together to support this Campaign at all levels. Although we are proud of our tradition of educating students from all backgrounds, many of our alumni have enjoyed professional success—much of which they attribute to the education they received at Suffolk. As the President and members of the advancement team have increasingly reached out to alumni in preparation for the Campaign, many alumni have stepped up their giving and have either made significant commitments to the Campaign already or are strongly considering major support for the University.  It is no surprise that Suffolk alumni value the University highly; but a pleasant surprise of much of the preliminary work for the Campaign has been the discovery that many alumni have the financial capacity to support the University, as well.

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I cannot donate $1 million. Is there a role for "ordinary" alumni and friends in the Campaign?

Absolutely! We welcome your support for Suffolk no matter what you are able to give. Large gifts obviously have a significant impact for the University and the Campaign’s objectives. But to reach the $75 million goal, Suffolk will need the support of thousands of donors, ranging from young alumni contributing $50 to the Annual Fund to a supporter offering a commitment of $1 million or more. Every gift, regardless of its size, helps us towards our goal—and will help Suffolk remain true to its mission far into the future.

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What’s the difference between an "annual" gift and an "endowment" gift?

Both types of gifts are very important to Suffolk, but they differ in how the contribution is spent.

Gifts to Suffolk’s Annual Fund directly support Suffolk’s programs, students, and faculty in the current year. By permitting the University to respond to need as it arises, the Annual Fund plays a crucial role in sustaining an environment of excellence at Suffolk.

A gift to endowment is a special kind of gift that promises permanent support for Suffolk. Endowed funds are invested and only a portion of the earned income from the endowment can be used for university programs; the principal remains. Think of endowment as a big savings account for the University with some of the income being reinvested in principal and some of the income being used to support current programs. Most universities, particularly over the past 20 to 30 years, have worked hard to develop strong endowments to insure a sustainable future and to hold down costs such as tuition.

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Can a gift be paid over several years?

Pledges are typically payable over a period of up to five years, although many who are making a more modest gift choose to make that gift on an outright basis—all at once.  There is no “minimum” or required threshold of giving.

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