University Advancement ANNUAL REPORT
A Message from VP Jennifer Cotter
The CMU advancement team has a philosophy of asking alumni and donors what they want their legacy to be, what impact they want to have on students, and what they want Central Michigan University to be in the future.
Then we listen.
We listen, because our alumni and friends share a remarkable sense of community and a deep dedication to CMU and its students. Joined by mutual respect and trust, our alumni, supporters and advancement team members create the impact that forges the future.
Their collaboration brought in $26 million in fiscal year 20232024, the most successful fundraising year in school history, beating the past record by nearly $2 million.
CMU’s generous donors set a powerful pace, whether we look at gifts that exceed $1 million, planned gifts designated in wills, trusts and IRAs, or gifts given by corporations and foundations. Donors also fueled a $5.8 million annual giving record, comprised of gifts between $1 and $10,000 — paying it forward because they believe in CMU and feel its momentum.
Our advancement team members are passionate about CMU and build authentic relationships, connecting with thousands of alumni and supporters each year, at events, via digital communications and in face-to-face meetings.
National standards indicate our team should raise $13 million to $15 million a year — far less than the $26 million generated in FY24. Clearly, those standards don’t mirror CMU alumni, nor our team members, Advancement Board or Alumni Association Board. Together, we’re engaged and innovative, and we understand that “Fire Up Chips!” means we rise to the occasion.
I want to thank President Bob Davies for his leadership and our Board of Trustees for ensuring CMU has the culture, systems and resources to go even further.
Sincerely,
JENNIFER COTTER Vice President for Advancement
CMU sets historic, $26 MILLION FUNDRAISING RECORD
Central Michigan University donors paid it forward in a large way during FY24, contributing $25.9 million in the single most successful fundraising year in school history. The new record exceeds the previous record, set in FY20, by nearly $2 million.
“This record generosity gives us tremendous momentum as we prepare to launch CMU’s next comprehensive campaign,”
said Jennifer Cotter, vice president for advancement.
“Current and future students will benefit from the incredible commitment and engagement of alumni, faculty, staff, friends and university leaders.
“Every donor makes a difference. This year is a perfect reflection of the remarkable sense of community at CMU,” she said.
Private Support of Central Michigan University
Advancement Board Chair
Sarah Opperman credits the record generosity to the university’s outstanding programs and students, an actively engaged president’s cabinet, enhanced technology, and the results-driven advancement team.
“That powerful combination is setting the pace we need for CMU’s future,” Opperman said.
$300,000,000
$250,000,000
$200,000,000
$150,000,000
$100,000,000
$50,000,000
CMU Total Endowment Moves Toward $300 Million
$265,356,839.84
Legacy giving INCREASES
A growing community of alumni and friends is ensuring CMU’s long-term leadership and agility as it gains momentum in enrollment, academic programs and impact on students and the world.
The value of their bequests — typically designated in wills and trusts or by naming CMU as an IRA beneficiary — was considerably higher in FY24 than the previous year. Under the leadership of Jeremy Mishler, in his first full year as senior director of gift planning, the number of documented bequests to CMU rose 64% — three times the goal for the fiscal year.
“CMU alumni have incredible spirit and a desire to help students. They understand the critical role donors at great universities play in funding the future,” said Mishler, now deputy chief of advancement and campaign strategies.
Some gifts support scholarships. Others support academic programs or faculty members, or fuel real-world learning experiences.
Many donors may not realize they have the resources to make a lasting impact until speaking with the advancement team, Mishler said.
“Once they start to explore what they want to support and the impact they hope to have, our advancement staff help them identify opportunities and shape their gift for optimal outcomes.”
Value of new documented bequests up considerably
FY24 = 25 bequests totaling $7,174,410
FY23 = 16 bequests totaling $1,154,021
Realized estate gifts
FY24 = 26 gifts for $3,048,085
FY23 = 26 gifts for $5,596,182
Additional highlights
» Engaged 1,000+ alumni/donors via monthly planned giving e-newsletter; identified 60+ new prospects as a result.
» Welcomed Legacy Society donors to campus to honor the largest gift ever to the School of Music, from New York City percussionist Mark Holen, ’70. The event included a performance by Holen’s New Bojaira Jazz Flamenco Band.
Gains made in external partnerships, CROSS-CAMPUS COLLABORATIONS
Much ground was gained in corporate and foundation relations in FY24, with submission of 40 proposals — 25 more than last fiscal year — to financial institutions, corporate partners, health care systems and private foundations.
Dana Doman, CMU’s director of corporate and foundation relations, worked to expand external relationships, leverage alumni connections and develop core materials for funding applications.
While prospective partners still are evaluating many of the proposals from the past year, the following examples show grants already received:
» PNC Bank awarded $60,000 for support of the Child Development Learning Lab in the College of Education and Human Services.
» The Children’s Foundation awarded $140,000 to the Frank Bicknell, MD Chair for Pediatric Urology Research in the College of Medicine.
» DTE Energy Foundation awarded $10,000 for the College of Science and Engineering’s InSciTE (Integration of Science, Technology and Engineering) program, which builds transferable skills through hands-on STEM challenges among students from diverse majors and backgrounds.
“Our partners are deeply generous and have the leadership vision to fuel programs that improve lives and communities,” Doman said. “We are sincerely grateful for their support.”
Doman works across campus to help academic and department leaders identify and develop the concepts — often as collaborations — that become funding proposals. Multiple colleges, for example, are engaged in expanding CMU’s leadership in education, health care and other critical services in rural communities.
CMU sets ANNUAL GIVING RECORD
Generosity among CMU alumni, friends and supporters climbed to an all-time high in FY24 through their contributions of “annual gifts” — single donations ranging from $1 to $10,000.
Reaching a total of $5.8 million, 22,600 donors paid it forward by supporting CMU students, programs, activities and more.
The increase means more resources than ever were funneled, for example, to the Student Food Pantry, which had more than 10,000 visitors during the year. It also boosted the Finish Up Chips! Scholarship, which in four years has helped more than 100 financially at-risk students within 25 credits of graduation stay in school and walk across the commencement stage.
“Our alumni have tremendous empathy for students because they’ve been in their shoes,” said Bryan Griffin, director of annual giving. “And now they’re giving back in record numbers.”
Annual giving total
» $5,781,726
Giving Tuesday achieves single-day high
» $520,725 raised
» 25% year-over-year increase
» 1,200+ donors
Average donation amount
» $255.34
Student Emergency Fund
» $1.3 million+ awarded since the fund’s inception
» $74,000+ provided to 36 students in FY24
This award allows students to pursue their dreams. Personally, I am working three jobs and going to school full time. Awards like this help students like me.”
— DESTINEE GRAY, ’24 , exercise science Student Emergency Fund recipient
Alumni connections span across MICHIGAN AND THE GLOBE
Nearly 9,000 attendees at 141 events reconnected with CMU in FY24. More than 900 attended an alumni event for the first time.
“Our alumni are the embodiment of CMU’s spirit of friendliness and connection,” said Marcie Otteman, deputy chief of alumni relations and constituent engagement.
“The pride and sense of community they carry into their lives makes our alumni network extraordinary.”
From connecting via social media to reliving their college days during Alumni Takeover Weekend or cheering on the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena, alumni deepened their bonds with CMU — and each other. They also took advantage of opportunities to create memories at beloved tourist destinations in Michigan and Europe.
Campus Conversations keep alumni engaged and informed
These new virtual conversations with campus leaders, faculty, staff and other alumni provided an inside look at CMU’s exciting developments. The 30-minute presentations were followed by Q&As and discussions.
550+ attendees
19 sessions
$16,580 in donations received
Total alumni events
141 events — 24% more than FY23 — hosted by Alumni Relations
8,859 attendees
908 first-time attendees
Social media followers
» Facebook: 52,000+
» X: 6,800+
» Instagram: 4,000+
» LinkedIn: 3,000+ (up from less than 1,000 in January 2023)
Affinity groups
» New honors and fraternity/ sorority chapters, plus a reinvigorated Latine Alumni Chapter
» LGBTQIA+ group raised $1,100 to support the LGBTQ Office, James W. Jones Memorial Scholarship and Lorenz Family Inclusion Award
Special recognition is given to NEARLY 3,000 TOP DONORS
The stewardship team celebrated the significant contributions of more than 2,700 donors in FY24 through special events and personalized recognition.
Highlights
170+ donors attended the Endowment and Scholarship Celebration 160+
major donors and prospects visited the President’s suite during football games
Nearly 850
individualized status reports were sent to donors with endowments
Advancement, Alumni boards provide ESSENTIAL SUPPORT
The Advancement Board and Alumni Association Board of Directors play critical roles as leaders and champions of the University’s fundraising and alumni engagement activities.
Sarah Opperman, ’81, chairs the Advancement Board. She is a retired Dow Chemical Co. executive and served on CMU’s Board of Trustees from 2009 to 2016; she chaired the board twice during that time.
Scott Nadeau, ’89, is president of the Alumni Association. He is the owner of Dexter-based Video & Internet Stuff, LLC.
Advancement Board highlights
» Provided in-depth input on the University’s strategic plan, with emphasis on long-term donor interests and opportunities.
» Developed and approved a three-year strategic plan for the Advancement Board, in alignment with the University’s new strategic plan. Year one action plans have been completed, including a scorecard to capture initiatives by the full board and its individual members.
» Refreshed the board’s administrative guidelines, including updating the committee structure, to align with the University and Advancement Board strategic plans and to be prepared for future fundraising goals.
» Together with the advancement team and university partners, helped raise a recordbreaking $26 million for CMU and its students.
» Provided counsel and support in planning a large comprehensive campaign, assuring availability of appropriate resources.
Alumni Association highlights
» Advanced alumni engagement by volunteering at various CMU events, on and off campus.
» Worked to solidify the Alumni Association’s future by:
• Providing online accessibility to board documents and resources.
• Defining board member responsibilities and beginning the process to modernize board bylaws.
• Expanding the screening/interview process for board members to ensure diversity in backgrounds, geography, colleges and academic programs.
» Approved bylaws for the Latine Alumni Chapter and welcomed the Honors Alumni Chapter. Assisted the Fraternity and Sorority and LGBTQIA+ alumni groups with efforts to create bylaws and seek chapter status.
» Selected Alumni Awards recipients and awardees of the Alumni Gold, Charles L. and Mary Fisher Anspach and Grandparents U scholarships.
» Worked to expand alumni engagement at CMU Athletics and Alumni Relations events.
