The College's capital campaign is on track to reach its goal of $1.3 billion by the end of 2009, according to Vice President for Development Carolyn Pelzel. The "Campaign for the Dartmouth Experience," which began in 2002, has raised over $838.5 million as of Thursday at 1 p.m -- 64.5 percent of its final target.
"We are currently $24 million behind the trend line, which is not a significant dip in the context of a $1.3 billion campaign," Pelzel said. "We have two and a half years left."
The campaign needs to proceed at the trend line's pace to stay on target. Dartmouth's $24 million drop below the target pace constitutes only 0.77 percent of the campaign's overall goal.
"It is common, over a seven-year period, for a campaign to dip below and to surge ahead of the trend line from time to time," Pelzel said.
The development office and other college officials have altered their fundraising strategies for the campaign -- the largest in Dartmouth's history with a goal three times larger than its precursor. To enhance participation, the College is reaching out to alumni across the country who have not been connected or involved with their alma mater.
However, the College's efforts have been challenged by the negative campaigning in Dartmouth's ongoing trustee race. Trustee candidates have criticized a number of the College's current practices both orally and through negative advertising.
"It raises questions in the minds of alumni about what's going on," Pelzel said. "It slows things down considerably."
Fifty-one percent of alumni contributed to the Dartmouth College fund last year. Pelzel said that well over 50 percent have participated in the capital campaign. However, the Development Office would like to receive one individual gift of at least $100 million.
"All of the other Ivies have at this point received at least one $100 million gift," Pelzel said.
Aside from Dartmouth, 26 other major universities are currently pursuing campaigns greater than $1 billion, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. The three other Ivy League institutions on the list -- Brown University, Cornell University and Yale University -- have goals higher than Dartmouth's $1.3 billion, while only state schools and Tufts University have goals lower than Dartmouth's.
Pelzel explained that when each capital campaign is analyzed on a per-student basis, Dartmouth's goal is far more aggressive than that of, for example, Brown's campaign. Based on a figure of 5,700 total graduates and undergraduates, Dartmouth's campaign seeks to raise $228,070 per student.
When asked whether the College might continue to raise tuition after achieving the campaign goal, Pelzel emphasized that the main goal of the campaign is not to defray current operating costs.
"I don't know the answer to that question," Pelzel said. "The campaign seeks to enhance the experience that you're already having."
Furthermore, Pelzel said that the goal is not a cap where donations should stop.
"A goal is meant to be exceeded," she said. "We will not feel constrained by $1.3 billion."
Outlined on its web site, the campaign will contribute the bulk of its proceeds -- $711 million -- to enhance academic programs.
"You are taught by Dartmouth faculty in the classroom and abroad," Pelzel said. "The real pitch about Dartmouth is this close student-faculty interaction."
The campaign has also allotted $185 million to residential and campus life, $166 million to financial aid and $244 million to the annual giving funds.
"We're focused on the capacity of individuals to change the world and better the condition of others," Pelzel said. "And that's a huge investment."
