Look to Michigan: Athletics Joins University In Fundraising Campaign Launch
10/25/2024 4:42:00 PM | General
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- On Friday, Oct. 25, the University of Michigan officially launched its multi-year capital fundraising campaign, Look to Michigan. Aligning with the University pillars -- Building Our Campus, Student Experiences, Innovation & Research, Engagement & Partnerships -- the Michigan Athletic Department announced a $400 million goal supporting the athletics master facilities plan, scholarship support and student-athlete enrichment.
"The block M and our athletic teams bring people together as a passionate community, but there is so much more to these young individuals than what you see on game day," said Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. "In order to truly support our student-athletes and provide them with exceptional experiences that empower them to change the world, we identified the three campaign pillars that make the most impact on them during their time here: facilities; scholarship support; and student-athlete enrichment.Â
"Our mission at Michigan Athletics is to foster a culture of excellence by committing to championship standards in everything we do and everyone we serve," Manuel continued. "The efforts behind this campaign will ensure we continue fulfilling that mission for years to come."
FACILITIES: The Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus serves as a home-away-from home for our 900-plus student-athletes. There is a need to both maintain existing infrastructure and facilities and accommodate the growing needs of our department. Thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters from the previous university campaign, Victors for Michigan, our campus expanded to include South Complex, among other projects, but there is still work to be done. Our Athletics Facilities Master Plan continues the momentum to ensure state-of-the-art facilities across the board, aligning with the University's Vision 2034 and Campus Plan 2050.
"Gifts and donations are the lifeblood of excellence in athletics," said U-M women's golf head coach Jan Dowling. "They don't just build facilities; they build champions. The quality of our training environments directly impacts the performance of our athletes – both academically and on the field. Every contribution allows us to provide state-of-the-art facilities that help our student-athletes reach their peak potential and bring pride to the university. Your support isn't just a gift, it's an investment in our future."
» Make a gift supporting our Athletics Facilities Master Plan Today!
STUDENT-ATHLETE ENRICHMENT: Michigan Athletics prioritizes proactively and consistently enriching every aspect of the student-athlete college experience: physically, mentally, civically and professionally. Student-athlete enrichment encompasses the nine pillars of the Champions Fund: the Academic Success Program; athletic counseling; athletic medicine; career preparation; leadership development; performance nutrition; recruiting; strength & conditioning; and team travel.
» Make a gift supporting our Champions Fund Today!
SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT: Establishing endowed and expendable scholarships not only provides opportunities for our student-athletes, it offsets the athletic department's massive annual scholarship bill ($33.7M in FY24). Our student-athletes receive a world-class education while developing real-world skills in leadership, persistence and teamwork.
"Scholarship support is absolutely vital to the success of our program," said Dusty May, the David and Meredith Kaplan Men's Basketball Head Coach. "It not only allows us to attract top-tier talent from all over the globe, but also gives our student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically without financial burden."
» Make a gift supporting our Athletics Scholarship Fund Today!
Michigan Athletics is a self-sustaining unit within the University, receiving no funds from the state, taxpayers or the University. All revenue the department receives through conference rights, licensing, ticketing and sponsorships is used to fund our annual operating budget, while donations support both annual expenses and future expenses through endowments.
For additional information and progress on the campaign, visit support.mgoblue.com.
