Examples of Parent Impact

Philanthropy is a great tradition at Michigan, and parents are a vital part of that legacy. Parent and family gifts enrich the student experience for the Leaders & Best. Your support can make a difference in many areas of the university. Additionally, due to the University of Michigan's national scope and reach, your contributions not only support students on campus but also help address larger societal issues like food insecurity, mental wellness, and access to education.

Many families choose to create a lasting legacy with a named family endowment, while others prefer to have their gifts immediately benefit students in need or support special initiatives like the Maize & Blue Cupboard. Families can contribute through one-time gifts, pledges, recurring gifts, or estate gifts.

One-time gifts allow for immediate impact, directly supporting current programs and initiatives.
Pledges are part of a larger major gift intention, offering a significant, sustained impact over time.
Recurring donations provide a convenient way to contribute regularly, ensuring ongoing support for essential services and resources.
Planned gifts, such as bequests, charitable gift annuities, and trusts, allow you to continue supporting the university while potentially benefiting from tax advantages.

Our team is dedicated to working with each family to create a personalized giving plan that maximizes their philanthropic impact at Michigan. The Parent & Family Giving program empowers our community to make meaningful contributions that enhance the educational experience for all Michigan students. Together, we can continue to uphold the tradition of excellence, and we invite you to partner with us.

Your regional contact is available to answer questions about any of the priority initiatives highlighted below.

Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center

The University of Michigan has long recognized the powerful link between physical and mental health and championed the importance of activity and recreation to the overall wellness of our community. Key to this commitment is a modern, state-of-the-art facility that meets today’s recreation, athletic, and fitness needs. Construction began in January 2023 on a premier space for recreation that will greatly enhance the quality of life for our community, allowing greater access and opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to improve their health and well-being. In recognition of a recent leadership gift, the new facility has been named the Hadley Family Recreation & Well-Being Center.

- Mike Widen, Director of Recreational Sports

Maize & Blue Cupboard

The Maize & Blue Cupboard opened in Spring of 2019 to provide an immediate and comprehensive response to research that shows 33% of students at the university are food insecure, with 10% not eating for a full day. A lack of money, transportation, and knowledge about budgeting and food preparation can contribute to food insecurity, which results in an inability to concentrate, a lower GPA, a lack of nutrition, and mental health issues.

The Maize & Blue Cupboard currently provides: fruits and vegetables, dairy, frozen meats and fish, grains, personal needs items, and cookware, with an average of 500 students visiting weekly. In addition to providing basic food needs, the Maize & Blue Cupboard is an identification and entry point for free services and resources for students, such as financial wellness, healthcare, mental health, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Housing.

Many parents, like Steve and Deborah Rosenthal, have joined together to provide both immediate funding for daily operational needs and endowment funding to sustain the Cupboard indefinitely.

The Rosenthal family standing on a balcony overlook.

We are very excited and honored to be involved with the Cupboard—knowing our contribution will help students in need for years/decades to come is incredibly rewarding for our family.

- Steve and Deborah Rosenthal

Scholarship Support

In 2018, U-M finished the $5 billion Victors for Michigan campaign, with more than $1.1 billion going toward scholarships for students. Michigan’s long-standing commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable is rooted in our mission as a public university that provides an “uncommon education for the common person.” Currently, two out of three first-year students receive financial aid. From tuition and fees, to room and board, to study abroad experiences, your support helps ensure greater access to a world-class education and opportunities for an enriched college experience. Many parents choose to create scholarships within a specific college or school or the Office of Financial Aid.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

At Michigan, diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to our core values. Our mission to provide academic excellence and a world-class education includes ensuring that every student has an opportunity to thrive during their time on campus. Through programs like Wolverine Pathways—a college preparation pipeline in underrepresented communities—and numerous resources that support the needs of students once they arrive on campus, Michigan is committed to helping more students from more diverse backgrounds have access to an education.

General Support

Help the university’s various schools, colleges, and units put resources to the areas of greatest need, from educational programs that enrich the student experience to outside-the-classroom learning opportunities as part of a world-class education. Your support will go right to work, making it possible to adapt to our changing world and address shifting priorities in real time. Ashish and Viraj Parikh chose to support the areas of highest need across the university, including Ross School of Business; the College of Literature, Science and the Arts; Michigan Athletics; and the Alumni Association.

Ashish and Viraj Parikh sitting outdoors on a sunny day.

When our son decided to attend Michigan, we were excited to join the Parent Leadership Council so that we could get more involved with the university and help support initiatives that were important to us. We chose to give expendable gifts to four different areas within the university that we felt a personal connection to as an LSA alumna and parents of a student interested in business and sports.

- Ashish and Viraj Parikh

And so much more!

Internships

Help students learn about their career options and build a professional resume with real-world work experiences that will maximize their ability to find a job after graduation.

Student health & wellness

Create opportunities and educate students about how to stay mentally and physically healthy for a lifetime.

Learn more

If you have any questions about how you can join in the tradition of philanthropy at the University of Michigan, please reach out to your regional contact.

Find your regional contact