University Of Michigan: ‘Looking To Michigan’ Campaign Aims For $7 Billion Raise

The University of Michigan announced its most innovative fundraising campaign to date, intending to raise $7 billion. This is the largest effort in its history and the largest known campaign goal of any public university.

Known as Look to Michigan, this campaign supports the Vision 2034 and Campus 2050 plans, which was revealed earlier this year for a mission of serving the public good by making an impact in four areas where Michigan is uniquely positioned to impact global challenges:

1.) Life-changing education — Elevating education by offering solutions to the acute shortages of well-prepared educators, addressing resource disparities, and allowing all learners to succeed.

2.) Health and well-being — Addressing critical health challenges locally and globally, improving affordability and access to quality health care, advocating for preventative health, and generating innovative discoveries that improve and save lives.

3.) Democracy, civic, and global engagement — Driving community participation and critical thinking; expanding knowledge of democratic practices and principles; and strengthening local, national, and international alliances.

4.) Sustainability and climate action — Addressing climate change through research and education and empowering students, faculty, staff and community members to find equitable solutions; and collaborating with partners to create long-term change.

Here is a video that U-M’s Athletics department posted on X:

The university is also pursuing advances in core commitments and key university priorities:

1.) Supporting students with the resources and wraparound services they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.

2.) Engaging with the arts as a creative catalyst for learning and growth.

4.) Fostering inclusivity on its campuses so each community member has equitable opportunities to thrive.

3.) Increasing U-M’s impact through innovation, partnership and economic development.

This is U-M’s seventh campaign, and it will also raise funds to support the student experience, innovation and research, community engagement and partnerships, and building state-of-the-art facilities across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, as well as Athletics and Michigan Medicine.

The priorities of the Look to Michigan campaign were developed through a series of conversations among academic leaders, working groups, and philanthropic partners to take an innovative approach that enables U-M and its donors to leverage the university’s scale, academic excellence, and network of alumni and supporters to make a greater impact possible on the most pressing challenges.

The university already received gifts totaling $3.3 billion during the campaign’s silent phase, before the public launch.

U-M’s most recent campaign, Victors for Michigan, ran from 2013 to 2018 and raised $5.3 billion.

KEY QUOTES:

“We know that the world is calling on us to answer the most urgent questions of our time — to be the defining public institution that inspires all that is possible.”

“The deeply collaborative, universitywide priorities of Vision 2034 have been years in the making and set the stage for Michigan to be that institution. And the Look to Michigan campaign will bring this ambitious vision to life.”

– President Santa J. Ono

“Our leaders have charted a bold new vision for U-M that leverages our expertise across fields and excellence at scale, one that exemplifies our innovative strength and service to the common good.”

“All of which is made possible with the philanthropic support of our generous donors, who have helped sustain our great university for more than 200 years and will continue to help propel us forward in this exciting new chapter.”

– Tom Baird, vice president for development