Rutgers University Foundation

What Rutgers University Foundation does

Rutgers University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization established in 1973 and headquartered at 335 George Street, Suite 4000 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Its mission is to generate philanthropic resources and facilitate meaningful engagement to advance the mission of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, operating as the official fundraising and alumni engagement arm of the university and serving as the institutional home of the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA). The foundation connects donors — including alumni, individuals, corporations, and grantmakers such as the Bob Woodruff Foundation — with priority funds including the Fund for Rutgers Cancer Institute (the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in New Jersey), the Scarlet Promise Current Use Fund and Endowment, the Rutgers-New Brunswick Dean of Students Emergency Fund, the Student Basic Needs Fund-Rutgers-New Brunswick, and The Edge Fund.

The foundation's core products are its online donation platform (give.rutgersfoundation.org), supporting one-time gifts, recurring pledges, payroll deduction, tribute and anonymous giving, employer matching, and planned/legacy giving, alongside a portfolio of alumni engagement products: signature events (Rutgers Takes the Garden State, Scarlet Spotlight Week, Rutgers Giving Day), a Hall of Distinguished Alumni recognition program, a WE ARE YOU content series, and an Alumni-Owned Business Marketplace. Distribution spans a global e-commerce giving storefront, regional alumni club events, enterprise workplace giving via Rutgers payroll deduction, and multi-channel content marketing across email/newsletter, organic social, and event-driven campaigns, reaching a community of 617,000+ alumni worldwide (378,900+ in New Jersey).

The business model is donation-based, with revenue driven by voluntary contributions (one-time, recurring, pledge, payroll, and planned/legacy giving) rather than product or service pricing, supplemented by grant funding from third-party foundations. Primary customer segments are alumni (engagement and lifetime giving), donors (philanthropic support and tax-deductible giving), students (recipient of donor-funded aid and emergency support), and university partners (schools, programs, faculty, and staff receiving advancement services). Strategic positioning is anchored in the Rutgers brand's national rankings (#15 Top Public University; #5 social mobility in Newark; #9 social mobility in Camden) and the healthcare ecosystem surrounding Rutgers Cancer Institute and its partnership with RWJBarnabas Health.

Name

Rutgers University Foundation

Legal name

Rutgers University Foundation

Website

https://rutgersfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Rutgers University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises philanthropic funds for Rutgers University and operates the Rutgers University Alumni Association, serving 617,000+ alumni, donors, students, and university partners across New Jersey and worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Fundraising & Alumni Engagement

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alumni Relations & Alumni Engagement Programs (EDALAOAA), Major Gifts, Planned Giving & Endowment Development (EDALAOAC), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• University fundraising
• Alumni engagement
• Charitable donations
• Nonprofit foundation
• Higher education philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Brunswick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The foundation generates revenue through voluntary charitable donations from alumni, donors, and supporters of Rutgers University. Donations fund academic programs, student aid, research, and university operations. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rutgers University Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises philanthropic resources for Rutgers University through an online donation platform, designated funds, and planned giving programs. It also operates the Rutgers University Alumni Association, supporting lifelong alumni connection through events, content series, recognition programs, and alumni benefits for 617,000+ alumni worldwide.

Product overview

Rutgers University Foundation operates as a unified platform combining fundraising and alumni engagement services. The core offerings include an online donation platform (give.rutgersfoundation.org) supporting multiple fund types including the Fund for Rutgers Cancer Institute, Scarlet Promise (Current Use Fund and Endowment), Dean of Students Emergency Fund, Student Basic Needs Fund, and The Edge Fund. The Foundation also manages alumni engagement through the Rutgers University Alumni Association (serving 617,000+ alumni), signature events (Rutgers Takes the Garden State, Scarlet Spotlight Week, Rutgers Giving Day), content series (WE ARE YOU), and the Hall of Distinguished Alumni recognition program. The donation platform supports one-time and recurring gifts, tribute donations, pledge payments, and corporate matching.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Donation Platform E-commerce donation platform enabling one-time and recurring gifts, tribute donations (in honor or memory), pledge payments, corporate matching, and anonymous giving with multiple payment options for Rutgers supporters.
• Fund for Rutgers Cancer Institute Donation fund supporting groundbreaking cancer research, new discoveries, and care teams at Rutgers Cancer Institute, the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in New Jersey.
• Scarlet Promise Current Use Fund Donations distributed by the Office of Financial Aid during the academic year to provide essential support for students in need, part of the Scarlet Promise initiative.
• Scarlet Promise Endowment Endowment building long-term support for the Scarlet Promise initiative, with interest income providing essential annual aid to students for whom a Rutgers education would otherwise not be possible.
• Rutgers–New Brunswick Dean of Students Emergency Fund Emergency fund providing fast, flexible support for students facing unexpected crises including medical emergencies, loss of income, or sudden housing insecurity to help them stay enrolled.
• Student Basic Needs Fund – Rutgers–New Brunswick Fund providing nutritious food through the Rutgers Student Food Pantry, short-term housing support, technology access, toiletries, academic supplies, and other vital items to help students stay focused on their education.
• The Edge Fund Fund created for students whose brilliance crosses categories—artists, scientists, coders, writers, and competitors in non-revenue sports—who bring imagination, integrity, prowess, and impact to Rutgers.
• Rutgers Takes the Garden State Signature event series connecting Rutgers alumni across New Jersey through local experiences at venues throughout the state.
• Scarlet Spotlight Week Annual alumni engagement event week celebrating and spotlighting Rutgers alumni achievements and community.
• Rutgers Giving Day Annual day of giving encouraging alumni and supporters to make gifts to support Rutgers students and programs.
• Hall of Distinguished Alumni Recognition program honoring extraordinary Rutgers University graduates for their achievements and contributions.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RWJBarnabas HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRWJBarnabas Health partners with Rutgers Cancer Institute to deliver comprehensive cancer care. Rutgers Cancer Institute is the state's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and together with RWJBarnabas Health provides lifesaving research and treatment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ohio State University Foundation: Official fundraising foundation for The Ohio State University. Comparable as a 501(c)(3) university foundation managing major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, and endowment stewardship.
• University of Pennsylvania Development and Alumni Relations: UPenn's development and alumni relations operation. Comparable as a university-aligned fundraising and alumni engagement function, though at a private institution with a different funding mix.
• University of Michigan Office of University Development: Central development and alumni fundraising operation for the University of Michigan. Highly comparable given the large public research university context, scale of alumni network, and multi-channel fundraising approach.
• Indiana University Foundation: Philanthropic and alumni fundraising arm of Indiana University. Comparable model of a state-university-aligned 501(c)(3) supporting scholarships, athletics, and program-specific funds.
• Penn State Development and Alumni Relations: Combined development and alumni relations unit for Penn State. Similar model of pairing fundraising operations with alumni association services for a large state university system.
• Michigan State University Advancement: MSU's combined development and alumni engagement function. Comparable in integrating alumni association operations with fundraising, gift processing, and donor stewardship for a Big Ten public university.
• University of Wisconsin Foundation: Independent fundraising foundation supporting the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Comparable as a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) affiliated with a major public research university, managing annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving.
• Cornell University Advancement: Cornell University's combined alumni engagement and fundraising arm. Comparable as a university-affiliated foundation managing alumni association membership, donor cultivation, and gift processing for a major research university.
• University of Virginia Alumni Association: UVA's alumni engagement and giving organization, paired with UVA Fund and major gift operations. Comparable in combining alumni membership, events, and fundraising for a public research university.

Others

• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE): Professional association serving advancement professionals at educational institutions. Relevant as an ecosystem peer providing standards, research, and benchmarking that shape how university foundations like Rutgers operate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rutgersalumni
• Facebookfacebook.com/rutgersalumni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rutgers-university-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rutgers University Foundation