Invest in the College of Medicine

Invest in Michigan, new physicians and our future

In 2022, the College of Medicine celebrates its 500th graduate—a milestone signifying the tremendous success earned and enjoyed since CMU welcomed our first class of future physicians in 2013.

From attracting high-quality faculty and staff to leveraging state-of-the-art facilities, from growing clinical volumes to fostering community partnerships, we have educated exceptional new doctors to meet the need for compassionate and comprehensive care locally, regionally and nationally.

Our mission is crystal clear: to train new doctors, expand health care capacity and improve access with an emphasis on rural and medically underserved populations in Michigan and beyond. Yet success will not be possible without the resources to grow in ways that benefit our learners and the community at large.

A bold vision to grow and support students

The College has embarked on an ambitious journey to secure necessary funding to ensure sustainability, support long-term growth and maximize our impact in the state. The effort seeks to raise capital in order to:

  • Create an endowment for long-term financial security and a basis for growth and progress.
  • Support student scholarships to offset student debt.
  • Secure funding to expand M.D. and Residency Program capacity and facilities.

The impact of investment

  • Close the gap in Michigan's physician shortage. 
  • Provide access to health care for medically underserved populations. 
  • Support students from Michigan to become doctors for Michigan. 
  • Meet the needs of people and communities across the state. 
  • Build collaborations and community partnerships. 
  • Secure economic growth and job creation.

Benefits for individuals and family charitable trusts

  • Create change and impact the future. 
  • Establish a lasting legacy. 
  • Care for the future generations of your family and community. 
  • Gain financial and tax benefits through philanthropy.

Benefits for corporations and regional businesses

  • Ensure a healthy and productive workforce. 
  • Build vibrant communities. 
  • Support economic growth. 
  • Grow health care capacity. 
  • Partner on shared social interests and values. 
  • Establish a meaningful connection with CMU.

Benefits for charitable and community foundations

  • Deliver on your mission in partnership with the College. 
  • Support higher education and community health and wellness. 
  • Excellent option for the investment directed gifts. 
  • Grassroots impact.

Opportunities to invest

The College of Medicine has a bold vision and focused dedication to make a difference for Michigan's health. Your support will make a positive impact, long into the future.

College of Medicine endowment

The College of Medicine main building, a brown building made of brick, next to trees blooming with pink flowers in spring.Unlike many medical schools nationwide, CMU’s College of Medicine was founded and funded by the University alone.

We have a unique opportunity for a passionate individual or visionary corporation to start an everlasting endowment of significance that will  forever change the course of our shared future.

Medical student scholarships

Students sit in a lecture hall with laptops on the table in front of them and look forward.Medical student debt is a significant challenge. CMU medical student debt is among the highest as compared to other Michigan medical schools. Scholarships directly fund student education and ease their financial   burdens into their practice years. Students with a lower debt load are more likely to choose primary care specialties, a treatment area of significant need for the state.

The College offers opportunities for partners to support through endowed scholarships, annual scholarships and naming opportunities.

Capital for growth and expansion

The education building in Saginaw with the windows reflecting the sunrise.The College of Medicine is poised for growth and plans to increase student program capacity. Additionally, we are increasing our capacity for interdisciplinary health-related education and training across the University, working with external partners across the Great Lakes Bay Region. The importance of having state-of-the-art facilities for this effort is crucial.

The capital raised through this effort will expand our ability to instruct our students, train residents, and better connect health care education across  the region to build on the pool of Michigan doctors, expand access to care and grow our economy.

The College of Medicine has a number of opportunities for directed support with naming opportunities for facilities in Mount Pleasant and Saginaw including:

  • The College of Medicine. 
  • Unnamed existing buildings. 
  • Conference rooms, lecture halls and portions of buildings. 
  • Planned additions and renovations.

Endowed chairs and named professorships

CMED_496-2019-01-12_sjpConsider providing annual support for outstanding faculty or visiting faculty members to support basic science, public health and clinical research.

  • Endowed dean positions.
  • Endowed named chairs.
  • Named professorships.
  • Named visiting professorships.
  • Named faculty awards.

Medical research support

A man wearing a white lab coat, blue gloves, and safety glasses works with test tubes.Research is an area of constant development and an important part of the education process for CMU medical students. Consider providing annual support for outstanding faculty or visiting faculty members for basic, translational, clinical and public health research at CMU. Contributions may be directed towards certain area of research, such as cancer care, cardiovascular care, diabetes research, opioid abuse, or another area of specific study. 

Ways to give to the College of Medicine

    Gifts of cash, check or credit card are the most common and easiest
    gifts to make. They are also tax deductible for the year in which the
    gift is made. The CMU College of Medicine gratefully accepts pledged
    gifts. These gifts allow donors to make a pledge commitment and set up a
    payment schedule that best suits their wishes.

    To make a gift by credit card, you can give now online (search for College
    of Medicine options), or call Sara Schafer at 989-774-1423 to make a gift by phone.

    Pledges and cash gifts made by check (payable to Central Michigan University)
    should be mailed with a letter stating your wish to support the College
    of Medicine and the purpose of your intended gift to:

    Central Michigan University College of Medicine
    Carlin Alumni House
    Attn: Gift Processing
    524 East Bellows
    Mount Pleasant, MI 48859

    More than 1,000 corporations nationwide match employee gifts to Central
    Michigan University. Many also match the gifts of retired employees and
    their spouses. Companies that participate often supply the form to
    submit with the gift. If your employer is a matching gift company, you
    may obtain the form from your company's personnel or community relations
    office. To determine if your company participates in a matching gift program, check our matching gift database or contact your company's
    human resources department.

    Planned gifts can be made now or deferred to a later time. Some types of
    planned gifts enable you to support the College of Medicine and receive
    tax benefits up front, while allowing you to sustain your current
    lifestyle by making use of bequests through a will, retirement plan
    assets, and charitable trusts. For more information contact Sara Schafer.

    Gifts of appreciated securities and closely held stock can be extremely
    beneficial-both to you and to CMU College of Medicine. You may receive
    an income-tax deduction equal to the fair market value of the
    securities, as well as a possible reduction or avoidance of capital
    gains taxes. Proceeds from the sale of these assets are directed toward
    donor-specified programs. Please contact Sara Schafer for more information.