University of Michigan Launches Ambitious ‘Look to Michigan’ Campaign Aiming to Raise $7 Billion

The University of Michigan launched its most ambitious and innovative fundraising campaign to date, with a goal of raising $7 billion—the largest effort in U-M history and the largest known campaign goal of any public university.

Look to Michigan supports the university’s Vision 2034 and Campus 2050 plans, announced earlier this year, to live out its mission of serving the public good by making an impact in four areas where U-M is uniquely positioned to impact global challenges:

• Life-changing education: Elevating the educational landscape by providing solutions to the acute shortages of well-prepared educators, addressing resource disparities, and giving all learners the opportunity to succeed
• Health and well-being: Tackling critical health challenges both locally and globally, improving affordability and access to quality health care, advocating for preventative health, and generating innovative discoveries that improve and save lives
• Democracy, civic & global engagement: Reinvigorating community participation and critical thinking; expanding knowledge of democratic practices and principles; and strengthening local, national and international alliances
• Sustainability & climate action: Mitigating climate change through research and education; empowering students, faculty, staff and community members to find equitable solutions; and collaborating with partners to create long-term change

U-M also is pursuing advances in core commitments and key university priorities: Supporting students with the resources and wraparound services they need to become tomorrow’s leaders; engaging with the arts as a creative catalyst for learning and growth; fostering inclusivity on our campuses so each member of our diverse community has equitable opportunities to thrive; and increasing our impact through innovation, partnership and economic development.

“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,” said President Santa J. Ono. “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.”

The seventh such campaign undertaken by U-M, Look to Michigan also will raise funds to support the student experience, innovation and research, community engagement and partnerships, and building state-of-the art facilities across all three campuses, Athletics and Michigan Medicine.

“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,” said Tom Baird, vice president for development. “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.”

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

The university has already received gifts totaling $3.3 billion during the silent phase of the campaign, before the public launch. The most recent campaign—Victors for Michigan—ran from 2013-18 and raised $5.3 billion.

As a public, nonprofit institution, U-M relies on philanthropic gifts to deliver 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.