New gift from Erb Family Foundation supports next generation of sustainability leaders

By Carmen Quiñonez, Erb Institute | Photos courtesy of the Erb Institute

Building on 30 years of commitment to sustainability through business, the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation has announced a $4.9 million grant for graduate students at the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute. 

The new Erb Legacy Scholarships will support current and future Erb students pursuing dual M.B.A. and M.S. degrees at U‑M’s Ross School of Business and School for Environment and Sustainability.

Pursuing two degrees in tandem often requires a greater financial commitment from students. This new gift significantly increases the scholarship packages awarded to Erb Institute students for at least the next 10 years.

This grant builds on the longtime support of the Erb family. In 1996, the late Fred (BBA ’47) and Barbara Erb provided $5 million to launch the  Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute. Over the years, they made two additional gifts, bringing their total gift to $20 million, plus $15 million in matching gifts, ensuring the Erb Institute’s success in perpetuity. 

In addition to their support for the Erb Institute, the Erb family has given widely to programs and causes across the university–from the Ross School of Business and SEAS to the Water Center at the Graham Sustainability Institute, Michigan Engineering, the School of Public Health, and several other areas.

“My parents believed deeply in the power of Erb students to change the world,” said John Erb, son of the founders of the Erb Institute and chair of the Fred & Barbara Erb Family Foundation. “Thirty years after its founding, the Erb Institute is, by every measure possible, the number one business and sustainability institute in the world, graduating alumni who are working on the most pressing issues of our time.”

 
This new gift enables the institute to increase scholarship packages awarded to all its dual-degree candidates for at least the next 10 years, making the program accessible to more students and reducing the financial burden on graduates who will pursue sustainability-related careers across various sectors. 

“Our students’ success during and after their time at the University of Michigan is thanks, in large part, to the generosity of the Erb family,” said Charlene Zietsma, the Erb Institute’s faculty director. “Scholarships are one of the most powerful tools to ensure we are continuing to shape a future that is sustainable in every way through the power of our students and alumni.”

 
Since its founding, the Erb Institute has graduated nearly 1,000 students. These alumni have gone on to hold high-ranking public offices, found social-impact-focused ventures, and join the C-suites of Fortune 500 companies. 

The grant funds the Erb Legacy Scholarship and marks the beginning of a fundraising effort by the Erb Institute to support this scholarship in perpetuity. 

“We believe that business can—and must—be a tool for good in the world, and Erb students and alumni are living proof of that belief,” said Erb. “With our gift, we’ve ensured increased scholarships for the next 10 years. We’d like to call on anyone who shares that conviction to join us—support the scholarship fund and help Erb students carry this work forward for the next 20, 30, 40 years.”

About the Look to Michigan Campaign 

Made possible by U‑M’s momentum and vast expertise to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges, the Look to Michigan campaign is raising funds for health and wellness, a sustainable future, civic engagement, advanced technology, and quality education for all. Look to Michigan includes all three U‑M campuses, Michigan Medicine, Athletics, and all university units. Partnering with our passionate donor community, we are committed to supporting all students, fostering inclusivity, and recognizing the arts as a creative catalyst for learning. With this foundation, we boldly move forward, dedicated to serving the public good and discovering what’s next for a better tomorrow. Learn more about the Look to Michigan campaign.