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Executive Summary: 2025 Areas of Focus
In the last week, the Trump administration cut over $200 million in federal research grants from Princeton, calling into question their policies on antisemitism. Now, more than ever, it is crucial for alumni to stay informed on these issues.As we have seen, 2025 is proving to be a year of dynamic and disruptive change for free speech on campuses, particularly given the sweeping and aggressive Executive Orders issued by the Trump administration. There is anecdotal evidence that applications to schools that emphasize free speech are up. Groups of faculty have begun to organize in support of free speech. There is pressure from applicants, alumni, potential employers, Congress, and the Trump Administration (Columbia “penalized” $400 million, Penn in the cross-hairs, 60 universities under federal review). The most important changes must occur at universities themselves; yet, neither the faculty or the administration can be depended upon to shift Princeton from the course that other elite schools have followed.To save Princeton, alumni must be involved, and the best way for alumni to have an impact is to support PFS and be a meaningful voice to Princeton admin and the Trustees. With your support, PFS is here to fight back and is well positioned to help restore Princeton to its core values.
How do we impact change?
Goal #1: Increase our outreach and influence to Princeton alumni
We will continue to drive our visibility among the approx. 100,000 living Princeton alumni by dramatically increasing new alumni members to our email list. Our ability to reach alumni en masse will help us leverage their voices and put pressure on the Princeton administration.
Where we’ve been:In fall 2024, we undertook asignificanteffort on this front. We contracted with a marketing agency to substantially increase our subscriber list among Princeton alumni.The initial outreach was successful–we increased the number of email subscribers from 1,444 (September 2023) to 7,745 (April 2025) – a 436% increase.
Where we’re going:We seek to capture 10% of total alumni (10,000+ people) on our email list in the near term and have an achievable plan to reach upwards of 20,000 alumni. Like you, these are graduates deeply interested in the environment at Princeton.
Goal #2: Donor expansion and funding diversification
We will grow our two major sources of revenue (individual donations and grants) dramatically.
Where we’ve been:To date, 100% of our revenue has come from individual contributors, the number of which has grown steadily since PFS’s inception. We’ve achieved a 300% increase in the total number of individual donors – from 52 (January 2023) to 208 (February 2025).We’ve further increased the number of small dollar donors (<$1000/year) from 10 in 2023 to 140 in 2025, thanks, in part, to the launch of Inner Circle in January 2024 (premium donor subscription with a $100/year min.)
Where we’re going – diversifying our funding mix:The impact of a sizable grant(s) from aligned Foundations will help ensure our longevity and financial success
Where we’re going – new donor/prospect outreach efforts:The addition of our new Executive Director brings capacity for new, sophisticated outreach efforts
Goal #3: Impact, Partnerships and Thought Leadership
Where we’ve been:
Allied with 27 (and growing) other alumni groups that promote free speech and leading national groups; inaugural founders of the Alumni Free Speech Alliance (AFSA).
Serve as a model and thought leader for other alumni groups as well as a clearinghouse of information for like-minded groups
Provided an influential and leadership voice on major free-speech campus controversies
September 2023: PFS Letter to Trustees in support of free speech on campus
March 2023: Open Letter to President Eisgruber and Princeton's Board of Trustees relating to removal of the Witherspoon statue
March 2022: PFS Letter Calling on Trustees to Commission Investigationregarding Princeton’s failure to uphold stated free speech rules
April 26, 2024 letter to Vice President Calhoun regarding encampment protests and subsequent reaction published in the ‘Prince’ on April 28, 2024
Hosted nine events on campus that model free speech and open discourse
Sponsor a survey of Princeton students that measures key metrics on free speech (latest results from June 2024). Troublingly, students continue to self-sensor as well as a higher percentage of students question whether the administration protects free speech.
Published dozens of original articles by PFS leadership (including 2025: A Breakthrough Year for Free Speech on Campus), students and guest writers in national publications
Free speech programming (with President Eisgruber as an active participant) has been a required component of orientation for the last three years thanks to our efforts.
Executive Committee members and staff visit campus, resulting in newly established relationships with two Deans who directly support free speech efforts on campus.
Substantial growth since inception;we now fund seven paid employees and interns, complementing five Executive Committee members (graduates, all pro bono).
Where we’re going:Push to support policies at Princeton that support free speech. We will:
Support faculty, organized faculty groups and students on free speech issues
Promote pro-free speech recommendations to the administration (i.e. adoption of institutional neutrality, removal of litmus tests)
Sponsor events and debates on campus that model free speech and open discourse
Maintain an interactive website (900+ articles) that has nationwide reach
Conclusion
Princeton is approaching a critical juncture. At some point in the near future (if not now), a search will begin for a new President. PFS, with a large number of alumni behind it, can play a decisive role in that process. With our goal of garnering upwards of 20,000+ alumni subscribers – and their support firmly behind us – we will contribute a strong voice that declares needed change criteria for the incoming president.
Your investment in PFS will enable us to accomplish new goals: dramatically expand our outreach to alumni (and thereby our impact with the administration), support the hire of our new Executive Director who will engage in aggressive marketing and fundraising tactics, and most importantly, fight to restore academic freedom, viewpoint diversity and free expression at Princeton. Every dollar you contribute defends free speech! Thank you for your support.
