Central Michigan University launches momentous fundraising campaign

Forge the Future, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in Central Michigan University history, has publicly launched with more than $237 million in gifts already secured. 

“A CMU education sparks a fire within us — building resilience, advancing careers and fueling a drive to change the world,” President Neil MacKinnon said. “Forge the Future asks us to fan the flames of our determination to support generations of students to come.” 

More than 170 students from across campus powered the campaign’s Sept. 18 kickoff gala at the John G. Kulhavi Events Center. The students showcased their research and academic projects, performed and helped produce the event for hundreds of CMU alumni and supporters in attendance.

Jennifer Cotter, vice president for Advancement, said the success of Forge the Future will be defined not simply by a dollar amount, but by the transformational opportunities it creates.

“Forge the Future is centered on the lasting impact philanthropy will have on our university, the communities we serve and, most importantly, students today and for generations to come,” she said. 

The Forge the Future campaign focuses on four pillars:

• Transform Student Experiences: Building energy around the CMU student experience to amplify the kind of learning that changes lives. 
• Engaged Connectivity: Bolstering CMU’s hallmark sense of belonging that bonds students, faculty, staff and alumni; empowering us all to thrive and excel,
• The CMU Impact: Expanding the university’s global impact through partnerships and initiatives that improve lives, communities and businesses.
• Fired Up Initiatives: Rallying around big, overarching initiatives to create momentum for students, communities and the university as a whole. 

“This historic campaign addresses today's needs while also shaping the experiences, programs and opportunities for tomorrow’s students and alumni,” MacKinnon said. “Together, we are forging a better, stronger future.”

Since its quiet phase began in 2021, thousands of donors have joined together to set new giving records each of the past three years. Their contributions of nearly $83 million in fiscal year 2026 alone are strengthening academic programs, expanding real-world learning opportunities, and funding scholarships and facilities that support student success.

“The CMU experience leaves a lasting mark on the lives of those it touches, inspiring alumni, friends, university partners, faculty and staff to pay it forward in extraordinary ways,” Cotter said. “The success of this campaign is driven by donors who believe in the transformative power of education and are committed to changing lives. Every philanthropic investment creates opportunity, fuels innovation and helps students achieve their goals, strengthening our communities for generations to come.”

Campaign gifts received to date have already established lasting impact across campus through scholarships, academic programs and facility enhancements. 

They have enhanced student wellness through a new program focused on self-care, resilience and life balance; and accelerated projects to further strengthen and enhance the university’s contributions to research and creative scholarship. Donations also are funding construction of the new MyMichigan Health CMU Medical Education Building in Saginaw, the future home of the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University.

The Forge the Future National Campaign Steering Committee is co-chaired by alumna and former CMU Board of Trustees Chair, Sarah Opperman, ’81, ’19. 

“All of us have an extraordinary opportunity to give students access to the programs, experiences and connections they need to achieve meaningful impact in their careers and communities,” Opperman said. “CMU is our university. And students are our cause.”

The Forge the Future campaign began in 2021 and is slated to continue through June 2031.