Guidelines and Best Practices for Annual Giving Volunteers

• What do I do?

  Consider yourself as an ambassador for the University, making vital personal contact with fellow Princetonians.

  You will be provided with a list of names and contact information, and you will call to ask for financial support for Princeton. Your goal is to encourage participation in Annual Giving by conveying your enthusiasm and affection for Princeton and reigniting these feelings in the people you contact.

  You may wish to review The Case for AG to learn why these unrestricted gifts are so important to Princeton's mission.

• I’m a little nervous about asking for money...

  That’s understandable, but don't worry — making the case for supporting Princeton isn’t hard. Your own belief in this great University gives you the platform you need to accomplish your mission. Most people you speak with also place high value on a Princeton education and fundamentally believe in the value of learning, and the vast majority will make a donation.

• How much should I ask for?

  First, check to see if your information includes a target dollar amount. If not, look at the prospect’s giving history and include a gift range. Or if the prospect is a consistent donor, ask if they are willing to increase their gift this year. (Many are willing to increase their gift amount, but they’ve never been asked.)

• When do I start?

  It is best to begin making contact as soon as you receive your list. You may wish to visit Resources for Annual Giving volunteers: Making Calls to help you prepare for making your first call.

   

• What if someone has questions or objections?

  Try not to get bogged down in the details of their protest. Visit Resources for Annual Giving Volunteers: Addressing Concerns for some ways to respond. You can also say that you will look into the matter and call the person back. Your volunteer leadership or the Annual Giving office can then help you prepare a response. Regardless of the nature of their concerns, thank your prospect for his/her time.

   

• Whom should I call if I need help?

  Contact your Annual Giving staff liaison at any time if you have questions or need more information. Your class agent, chair, or other team members can help, too.

• How will I know if someone has given?

  Lists of donors are available by class or by region or by constituency — updated weekly through May, then daily through June. Lists can be sent to you physically at any time you request one. Just contact the AG staff.

  Tiger Tracks, Annual Giving’s online prospect selection and management system, is an additional web-based tool that enables you to track the gift progress of those prospects specifically assigned to you. Contact your Annual Giving staff liaison to learn if your class or constituency is utilizing Tiger Tracks in the current campaign.

• When does the campaign end?

  All gifts must be received at Princeton by June 30 to be included in the current campaign year.

• What about the money?

  Ideally, ask if the donor will give you his or her specific gift amount and credit card information over the phone. Then you call it in to the Annual Giving gift line, 800-258-5421. You can also direct donors to that number or the secure online giving site, www.princeton.edu/ag. If they prefer to pay by check, send them a reply envelope (we will provide you with a supply). All gifts should be sent to Annual Giving, P.O. Box 5357, Princeton, NJ 08543-5357.

  For information on giving securities, visit: How to Make a Gift

• What do the symbols on my report mean?

  Consult the AG Glossary for details.

• How does information get updated?

  At both the institutional and grass roots levels. If you provide updated information to us, it will be passed along to Alumni Records to update our database. In addition, there are institutional efforts to update our records.

• What about matching gifts?

  Many employers match their employees’ charitable contributions. On your reports, a “Y” in the MG column signifies that your prospect can submit a matching gift form to his/her employer. Since people change jobs frequently, it is good to confirm employment information as well. Please ask prospects if they work for a matching gift company. If the answer is yes, ask them to obtain a form from their human resources department and send it to Princeton.

  For a  listing of matching gift companies, visit: How to Make a Gift