Scholarship drive buoys giving

From M, winter 2005

The U's new focus on scholarships seems to have struck a chord with U alumni, staff, and friends. The U received $34 million for scholarships from more than 15,000 donors during fiscal 2004, the first year of its ongoing effort to raise $150 million for funding scholarships. The goal is to increase by 50 percent the number of students receiving privately funded scholarships.

In fact, the number of donors contributing to scholarship gifts has more than doubled in the last five years, from 7,200 contributors in 2000 to 15,452 contributors in 2004. Alumni in particular, says U of M Foundation president and CEO Gerald Fischer, "have responded generously and enthusiastically" to the drive.