Advancement News | December 2008
Raising the university's profile
Welcome to the first University Advancement newsletter. This periodic publication will provide you with quick updates on our work in advancement. You can expect details on the latest gifts to the university, updates on our capital campaign-in-progress, announcements of upcoming events, and other news related to the division's fundraising and marketing efforts on behalf of San José State University.
We want the campus to get to know us, as a division and as individuals. We enjoy our work immensely and take pride in expanding the number of alumni and friends of the university who donate to SJSU and, through those donations, actively contribute to our institution's current and future successes. We also work to strengthen governmental partnerships, build membership in the Alumni Association, and vigorously promote the university to the larger community.
We'd like to thank the many of you who work collaboratively with us in fundraising and in promoting the university. Together we are positioning San José State to achieve new levels of excellence across our academic enterprise.
Who we are
 |
Fred Najjar
Vice President
University Advancement |
The Office of the Vice President, led by Vice President Fred Najjar, oversees the entire division, which includes 70 employees and houses the following departments: Advancement Services, the Alumni Association, Development, Public Affairs, and the Tower Foundation. In addition, the Vice President's Office plans special campus events, including Homecoming and the annual Tower Award dinner.
Advancement Services tracks and records all university fundraising initiatives. Among the department's responsibilities: gift processing, database system management, information systems support, information reporting and donor stewardship.
- The Alumni Association, founded in 1873, serves as the university's alumni relations network, connecting with SJSU graduates and working to engage them with their alma mater through events, publications, a growing scholarship program and member benefits.
- The Development team works collaboratively with the president's staff, deans, chairs and campus leaders to coordinate donor prospect management and private support throughout the university and to recognize donors for their contributions.
- Public Affairs builds pride in SJSU and promotes its mission through coordinated communications, publications, media and government outreach, and marketing strategies.
- The quarterly magazine, Washington Square, is written and designed in-house and distributed to more than 170,000 alumni.
- The Tower Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation and the university's newest auxiliary organization, was formed in 2006 to handle all philanthropic donations to the university. The Tower Foundation's Board of Directors includes prominent alumni and other community leaders committed to ensuring San José State's prominence and prestige.
Recent Achievements
In 2006-2007:
- SJSU led the CSU in fundraising
- SJSU received a record $50+ million in private gifts
- SJSU received two college-naming gifts in a single year
- UA spearheaded the year-long celebration of the university's 150th anniversary
In 2007-2008:
- $84 million raised to date in capital campaign
- Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment increased by 31%
- Alumni Association membership increased by 12%
- SJSU Tower Foundation ranked first in the CSU for endowment investment returns
- The addition of eight to the Tower Foundation Board of Directors
- The Alumni/Development database, a repository of almost 264,000 alumni and donor records, successfully converted to a modern platform
- 100% expansion of alumni programming
- Washington Square magazine redesigned and expanded
- Heritage Newsletter revived
- SJSU logo refreshed; university style guidelines introduced
University Advancement also contributed to these campus milestones:
- SJSU's selection for the 2008 CASEWealth Engine Award for Educational Fundraising in recognition of raising more than $100 million over the past 3 years
- SJSU's selection as one of four CSU campuses to receive $1.25 million from the Bernard Osher Foundation to support endowed scholarships for California Community College transfer students
- SJSU honored with a proclamation from San José Mayor Chuck Reed at City Hall on Founder's Day.
Let us hear from you!
Please feel free to contact any of us with questions, requests and suggestions.
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