As the University's funding from the state shrinks and tuition
rises, administrators are campaigning for more alum donations to
fund scholarships and facilities, a move intended to lessen the
financial burden for students.

Jerry May, vice president for development, who coordinates the
fundraising, said roughly every 10 years the University makes a
major push for donations. But this year, because the University is
struggling to find ways to stimulate revenue to combat decreasing
state budget, generous donations are increasingly valuable to fund
scholarships, endowments and new facilities, May said.

"Clearly, we are raising money by looking at every possible
revenue stream to keep the University strong. We want to always
increase quality but also keep it affordable. That's why we are so
focused on student scholarships." May said.

The recently announced high-end donations by University
President Mary Sue Coleman and her husband, Kenneth Coleman, and
Regent Olivia Maynard and her husband, Olof Karlstrom, serve as
leadership contributions, targeted to encourage other potential
patrons as the University prepares for a public fundraising
campaign beginning in May.

Maynard and her husband announced a $2.25 million gift to the
School of Social Work earlier this week. The donation will
establish a professorship endowment fund and an award fund for
community-based research.

Maynard, who earned her master's degree from the School of
Social Work in 1971, was elected to the Board of Regents in
1996.

Karlstrom, who also graduated from the University, is a private
attorney in Flint.

As Flint residents, Maynard and her husband made sure their
donation benefited the University's satellite campus. The
professorship endowment will fund a faculty member's research work
with students on the Ann Arbor and Flint campuses.

"The School of Social Work is a very valuable asset to the
University," Maynard said. "It's part of the University's mission
to help with issues of diversity."

This donation comes after Coleman and her husband gave $500,000
gift to the University - the largest donation of any University
president.

Of that gift, $150,000 will fund graduate fellowships and
undergraduate scholarships. Among other initiatives, $50,000 will
also be budgeted for the renovation of the William Monroe Trotter
House.

The fundraising campaign is still in its early phases, setting
the tone for potential donors.

The donations received now also give an indication of what the
University can expect to raise in the next five years and therefore
set a campaign goal.

In the last major fundraising campaign drive beginning in 1991,
the University surpassed its goal with $1.4 billion in
donations.

But the University still receives large donations during off
non-campaign years.

In 1997, alum Richard Rogel and his wife, Susan Rogel gave $22
million to financial aid to non-resident undergraduates. Now Rogel
serves at co-chair for the fundraising campaign.

"I know the alumni will get excited to donate especially after
the leadership role of President Coleman and Regent Maynard," Rogel
said.