The Office of University Development (OUD) continues to work in collaboration with chief development officers in every school, college and unit to identify their top DEI fundraising priorities and which of the university’s active gift funds serve a purpose related to DEI.
DEI 1.0 Evaluation Update
From those units able to identify their DEI funds, U-M raised over $98,665,269 for a wide range of DEI initiatives and funds, including scholarships for first-generation students, during DEI 1.0.
In planning for the next fundraising campaign, DEI remains a foundational element of the campaign themes, and leadership has further emphasized the need to include DEI fundraising within university-wide initiatives. At the unit level, campaign planning meetings with each school, college and unit include discussion of their DEI-specific priorities and how they can be supported by the unit’s campaign plan.
Notable achievements to date include:
- Diversifying the Donor Base: In Year Five, OUD and its partners made significant progress in diversifying the donor base. By enhancing donor engagement data, increasing diversity on volunteer boards, and developing and sharing best practices to engage individuals from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds, these initiatives are building critical infrastructure vital to the success of our next campaign.
- Launching the DEI Leadership Council: Having completed its second year of work, this university-wide volunteer network of philanthropic alumni and friends is deeply committed to ensuring that U-M continues to be a community in which all individuals are afforded an equal opportunity to thrive. The group met twice in Year Five to advise the Vice Provost for DEI on real-world implications of grant funding, and to address community engagement, campus reactivation and DEI fundraising for the next campaign.
- Establishing the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship: During George Floyd’s memorial service, Dr. Scott Hagen, president of North Central University in Minnesota, challenged university presidents nationwide to create George Floyd Memorial Scholarships. Soon after, U-M alumna Marchell Willian proposed establishing such a scholarship fund and made the initial gift. As the first Michigan-led grassroots campaign for ODEI, this scholarship will begin the process of diversifying both the types of scholarships offered and their giving focus. In FY21, $80,600 was raised from 59 donors, including Willian. The first recipient, a Wolverine Pathways graduate, received the award in Fall 2022.
Responsibility: Office of University Development