EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University eclipsed its own single-day fundraising record from last year by nearly $200,000 for its #GivingTRUEDay campaign held on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

The University raised $468,195 from the generosity of 921 donors in the 24-hour campaign of giving. The newly branded fundraising drive was held in conjunction with the national #GivingTuesday movement, founded in response to the all-out consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Donors supported a wide variety of funds from more than 800 scholarships available, to programs and departments, student services and more. All of the support will have a direct and immediate benefit across the EMU community. The final tally includes nearly $50,000 raised during 89.1 WEMU’s annual Giving Tuesday drive, which featured day-long jazz and refreshments in King Hall.

[ Click here to give and click here to learn more about #GivingTRUEDay ]

"#GivingTRUEDay was a tremendous success," said EMU President James Smith. "The great support we received from our faculty, staff, students and alumni reflects the pride and the wonderful commitment to Eastern among those connected to the University. My sincere thanks to all who participated in this special day of giving."

#GivingTRUEDay supporters also took advantage of several matching gift challenges. A College of Business Alumnus offered a 1:1 matching gift up to $10,000 for all contributions made to the college’s student organizations, while the recently inducted Arm of Honor Alumni Chapter offered a $1,000 match for gifts made to Swoop’s Food Pantry. Faculty members in the Prosthetics and Orthotics program pooled their resources to offer a $1,500 matching gift for their Master’s program.

New to the 2017 campaign, EMU Advancement staff collaborated with students to increase awareness and participation on campus. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences formed their own development council and held a day-long event on the second floor of Pray-Harrold. Student government members were also asked to identify the University’s greatest needs, which were incorporated into Eastern’s new crowdfunding platform at donate.emich.edu. The specially designated funds were Swoop’s Food Pantry, the Student Emergency Fund (which offers aid to students who experience a sudden, life-altering event), the EMU Fund and the Flint Water Data Project.

EMU's Vice President for Advancement, Bill Shepard, credited these grassroots partnerships and the spirit and passion of the EMU community - students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends - for coming together to support the University.

“It was great to see the whole EMU community come together to not only give back but to celebrate the work of this great institution. And I am blown away by the generosity we experienced,” says Shepard. “We are grateful to all who gave and who helped make this day such a success. Those contributions will have an immediate and lasting impact for our students and faculty, and we hope to set another record next year!”

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.