Princeton Prospect Foundation (PPF) is an IRC section 501(c)(3) organization whose primary purposes are (a) to facilitate the preservation and restoration of the historically and architecturally significant buildings owned and occupied by Princeton University eating clubs (each a “Club”) and to educate the general public about the history and architecture of the buildings and (b) to further the education and charitable activities of students belonging to the Clubs.
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Prospect Avenue & University Field, 1911
The clubs have been substantially assisted by funds raised through the Foundation to comply with mandated safety and building code requirements and to renovate those sections of the buildings that are devoted to educationally-related activities or to maintain the historic and architectural significance of the clubs. In the mid-1980s, in recognition of the contribution that this tax-exempt organization was making to club life, Levering Cartwright ’26 donated $75,000 to the Foundation.
The influence of Princeton Prospect Foundation on the eating clubs has been noticeable in many respects. The clubs have made their facilities available for University precepts and seminars, sponsored lectures by guest speakers and members of the faculty, expanded and upgraded their computer and study facilities, maintained foreign language tables, and awarded student scholarships, in many cases because of funds raised through the Foundation.
The Foundation sponsors periodic open houses and guided tours of the eating clubs to allow the public to learn about the unique history of the clubs as well as their architecturally significant features.
Princeton Prospect Foundation supports the eating clubs in community service efforts, in which all of them engage. Various clubs have Community Service Chairs, and most clubs have members who coordinate and participate in sustainability initiatives. Community Service Chairs, representatives from the Pace Civic Engagement, and other campus organizations periodically come together so that club members can work together on innovative ideas for civic and community engagement. The most highly visible and comprehensive community service project has been TruckFest, which has been held seven times since 2014. This fundraising event has been supported by the Foundation and typically has engaged the efforts of over 200 students in many capacities in a fully collaborative effort among the eating clubs. It has been by far the largest fundraising effort by students on campus. Learn more about the clubs’ service activities at princetoneatingclubs.org.
In 1958, at the request of the Graduate InterClub Council, the Graduate Board of Tower Club, of which James Newman ’26 was Chairman, made a study of ways to “strengthen the community of interests between the Prospect Avenue eating clubs and Princeton University”, and issued a report containing the Tower proposals.
The goals emanating from the study were “(1) to help the University achieve its education and financial objectives, and (2) to help Prospect Avenue solve its own increasingly critical social and economic problems, which, if unsolved, will tend inevitably to become the University’s problems, perhaps within the near future”.
First Ivy Clubhouse, 1879
The report emphasized the point that “economic considerations for Prospect Avenue as a whole cannot be separated from the social and educational aspects of the Princeton college community. Consequently, a key proposal is to add to Prospect Avenue activities a new and wholesome function–the carrying out of certain educational programs–while continuing to strengthen existing social, eating, and rooming functions.”
With the persistence of Newman and the assistance of others, several of the basic recommendations were implemented which on January 17, 1959 led to the creation of The Princeton Tower Foundation whose board of directors included members of Tower Club as well as other clubs.
The Foundation was able to assist Tower Club in creating study and seminar facilities, expanding its educational library, providing scholarships to some of its members, and annually appointing a number of faculty fellows who were encouraged to dine at the club from time to time.
By 1966, the benefits that were accruing to Tower Club had been observed by the officers of the other clubs, a few of whom were belatedly wondering whether they should affiliate with this successful enterprise. To encourage such affiliation, the name officially was changed to Princeton Prospect Foundation. It was over a decade later, however, before other clubs joined Tower Club and shared in the benefits of this Foundation.
By the early 1980s, eight clubs officially were associated with the Foundation: Campus Club, Cap & Gown Club, Cloister Inn, Colonial Club, Elm Club (now part of Cannon Dial Elm Club), Quadrangle Club, Terrace Club , and Tower Club. Since then, Charter Club, Cottage Club, and Ivy Club joined, bringing to eleven the number of Princeton’s eating clubs associated with the Foundation.
In the spring of 2000, Tiger Inn joined the Foundation, allowing Princeton Prospect Foundation to be of use to all of Princeton’s Eating Clubs. However, Cottage Club subsequently withdrew from the Foundation for reasons related to its individual listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Although Campus Club closed its doors in 2005 and sold its clubhouse to the University in 2006, it nevertheless has funds with the Foundation as the result of a large bequeathment in 2022.
In more recent years, the mission of Princeton Prospect Foundation has evolved to emphasize the preservation and improvement of the historically significant clubhouses in addition to encouraging the educational and charitable pursuits of eating club members.
Sandy Harrison ’74 – Chairman
Corbin Miller ’71 – Secretary
Valarie Bay
Karl Pettit '67
Adi Rajagopalan '13
Timothy Burman ’64 – Vice Chairman
Douglas Rubin '81 – Treasurer
William Golden '99
Andrea Rabitz
Lexy Sarstedt
For general inquiries and information about Princeton Prospect Foundation, please contact:
