Look to Michigan Campaign FAQ

What is a fundraising campaign?

A fundraising campaign is an organized effort for the university’s highest, most strategic priorities with an announced financial goal and timeline. It focuses on raising private support through philanthropic giving, seeking donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to support areas where their passions and goals align with those of the university.

What are the priorities of the Look to Michigan campaign?

Look to Michigan is U-M’s most ambitious and innovative fundraising campaign to date, seeking private support for four areas where Michigan is uniquely positioned to impact global challenges: a sustainable future, civic & global engagement, health and well-being, and quality education for all, with a commitment to support all students, foster inclusivity, and recognize the arts as a creative catalyst for learning. The campaign will advance the priorities of all three U-M campuses and their schools, colleges, and units; Michigan Medicine; and Athletics in areas such as student experience, innovation and research, engagement and partnerships, and building our campuses.

How were these priorities established?

Developing the Look to Michigan priorities has been a years-long, universitywide effort. A few years ago, we began a significant collaborative, interdisciplinary process seeking ideas on developing themes that demonstrate our capacity, with appropriate support, to have a major impact on solving the world’s most vexing problems. We engaged academic leaders, working groups from across the university, our philanthropic partners, and others. These themes were further refined to reflect the impact areas developed as part of Vision 2034, the strategic vision for the university unveiled in the spring of 2024 after a year-long process initiated by President Santa Ono. The Look to Michigan campaign is aligned with Vision 2034, supporting the impact areas and core commitments.

Why does a public university like U-M need private support? 

As a public, nonprofit institution, U-M relies on philanthropic gifts to continue delivering world-class education and research that would not be attainable relying solely on government funding and tuition. These gifts allow U-M to attract qualified students from all backgrounds, recruit outstanding faculty, fund innovative research, improve teaching methods, add creative programming, and build and maintain facilities.

For more information on university finances, including the impact of state funding, please visit the General Fund Budget Snapshot page of the U-M website.

How does the university use the endowment? 

U-M’s endowment provides essential support for generations to come for education and student support, research, patient care, service, and more. It provides long-term stability to sustain university operations through uncertain times and temporary market swings, and grows and secures purchasing power for scholarships, professorships, innovative programs, learning opportunities, facilities, and more. The endowment portfolio consists of 12,700 separate investment funds. The annual distributions from these funds are some of the university’s most valuable financial assets. More than 20% of the endowment supports student financial aid at all three campuses.  

Endowed gifts are structured so that the principal amount donated is never spent and instead remains preserved and permanently invested. The earnings generated from the original gift support a specific purpose chosen by the donor, whether that is a professorship, scholarship or other objective. This structure is the fundamental characteristic of any endowment. For more information, visit the University Endowment webpage.

How does giving to U-M help students?

Providing an excellent educational experience for all U-M students is a top priority for the university and philanthropic support helps make this possible. Student support provides access to education, so finances are not a barrier to attending U-M; keeps a U-M education affordable so students do not graduate with a heavy student loan debt; and helps students engage in enriching experiences outside the classroom, including internship and study abroad opportunities. Donors like you can support very specific aspects of the student experience through dedicated gift funds. Visit the Student Support category on the Michigan Giving website for more information.

How can you make an impact on areas you’re passionate about by supporting the Look to Michigan campaign?

With its unmatched expertise across fields, excellence at scale, and spirit of collaboration, the University of Michigan is uniquely positioned to find solutions to society’s most pressing challenges and to make the world a better place. When you support the people and programs at Michigan, you make a difference in the causes that mean the most to you, spurring real change now. Gifts of all sizes make a big difference in helping us reach our goal of philanthropic support for the campaign’s important impact areas and we appreciate every one.