The Kean University Fund for Excellence
Whether you are an alum, student, parent or friend, The Kean University Fund for Excellence is our annual giving fund, and it provides an opportunity to make a difference in a manner that is meaningful to you.
Donations made to the Kean University Fund for Excellence are the most common types of gifts, and they are registered on an annual basis. Proceeds from the Phonathon and other fundraising initiatives throughout the year are generally allocated to this annual fund.
Unrestricted dollars generated through this Fund support new and existing academic and cultural programs; assist students with their financial obligations; enhance and maintain campus infrastructure; and permit University leaders to respond to unanticipated expenses. It also enables Kean to promote innovation in education and support an entrepreneurial spirit; be responsive to its most critical and often unanticipated needs; and endorse a world-class learning environment. Each year, there are many ways that you can contribute.
Supporting the Dean's Fund for Excellence ensures that your donation goes toward a designated academic College of your choice. These dollars directly benefit students, faculty members and the academic deparrtments as a whole. They are allocated at the discretion of each Dean.
The General Scholarship Fund helps to ease the financial burden for academically talented students in our full- or part-time graduate and undergraduate programs. Generosity in this area helps Kean continue its primary mission of providing access, academic excellence and affordability to a richly diverse population of more than 13,000 students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend an institution of higher education.
A gift to Other Programs supports special events as well as educational and cultural functions at Kean, where students, alumni, family and friends have the opportunity to connect with one another. Making a contribution to this fund helps to ensure that Kean continues its journey toward becoming New Jersey’s destination of choice for the many people who appreciate critically acclaimed, high-quality artistic and educational programming and community outreach initiatives.
Click here to download a PDF version of the donor contribution form.
The following are common questions and answers about the Kean University Fund for Excellence.
What is the Kean University Fund for Excellence?
The Kean University Fund for Excellence is our annual giving fund, and as such, gifts to this area are typically made on an annual basis, often in response to direct-mail appeals, phone calls, or online giving campaigns. Many of these gifts are then matched by the donor’s employer through corporate matching gift programs.
What do annual gifts support?
Typically, annual gifts to the Kean University Fund for Excellence allow us to place resources where they are most needed or where opportunities are the greatest. Unrestricted annual giving dollars directly assist students by providing scholarships, enhanced facilities, and innovative academic programs. Occasionally, donors designate their annual gifts for specific purposes, such as scholarship assistance, faculty development, or technology improvements.
Why are annual gifts important?
New Jersey’s public higher education institutions have experienced a decade of declining state support. Kean now receives less than 22% of its funding from the state of New Jersey. Private support provides us the flexibility to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities that will keep Kean at the forefront of innovative educational and research programs.
Who benefits from annual gifts?
Everyone – students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and the community – benefits from annual gifts made to Kean. The funds provided by annual gifts allow the University to take advantage of a wide variety of opportunities, such as student scholarships and support of academic programs.
How do I make an annual gift?
Annual gifts can be made through direct-mail appeals, phone pledges and online by clicking here, or on the "Make a Gift Now" icon at the top of the Foundation homepage. Many corporations have matching gift programs, in which a corporation will match gifts by employees to qualified charities, including Kean University. Matching gift policies vary from company to company, so please check with your human resources department. Many companies will also match gifts by their retirees and their employee's spouse.
Where does my annual gift go?
Many annual donors ask that their gifts support the area of greatest need. These undesignated donations allow for flexibility and make funds available for worth projects within the Kean University. You determine where you want your annual gift to go. You may select Kean’s general scholarship fund or designate your gift to a specific program or department.
When should I make my annual gift?
Annual gifts can be made any day of the year – and thanks to online giving, any time of the day or night. The University’s fiscal year is July 1 through June 30, and the Foundation uses this range when determining giving in a particular year.