In the basement of Hewitt Hall, in a room with squares of mismatched carpeting and half-walled cubicles, UNH students gear up to make money—a lot of money.

Last year the Phonathon, with only 25 phones, made a record half-million dollars for the University of New Hampshire Foundation.

“The people we call have donated before,” said fifth-year senior Penelope Angiulo. “They love UNH—you just have to remind them how much they love it.”

Anguilo, who has had her work-study job at the Phonathon since she was a freshman, knows the importance of any donation the university can get.

“From $10 to $1000, every dollar counts,” said Anguilo. “Only 14.9 percent of university revenue comes from state funds. That’s the lowest in the nation. We need alumni to give back.”

Even with over 100,000 living alumni, only about 14 percent give back to the university. It is the job of the UNHF to retain that interest, while seeking other sources of private funding.

UNHF works independently from the Alumni Center to secure private monetary support for UNH through its alumni, friends, corporations and other private or public foundations. UNHF collects $12 to $14 million annually for the university, which is 4.4 percent of the total $404 million annual operating budget.