CMU secures $79 million to advance real-world learning

Central Michigan University’s fiscal year 2025 fundraising goal of $27.5 million was met within five months. At that point, CMU’s advancement team and donors turned up the flame even further, ending the year with historic gifts totaling $79 million. 

“CMU donors exceeded the 2024 record by a landmark $54 million, more than tripling our previous all-time high for fundraising,” President Neil MacKinnon said. “Their belief in CMU is forging the way to an ever-stronger future for students, the university and for Michigan. 

“I thank our incredible corporate partners, alumni, faculty, staff and friends for expanding CMU’s impact on students and communities,” MacKinnon said. “All of you are changing and improving lives.”

The lead gift is a commitment of $5 million each of the next eight years from Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw, in support of CMU’s College of Medicine and its Advancing Health Together initiative.

“Covenant HealthCare has stepped forward to advance CMU’s commitment to addressing the health care needs of underserved populations, including in rural communities across central and northern Michigan,” said Jennifer Cotter, vice president for advancement. “Covenant’s leadership reflects its mission of providing excellent care for every generation and positions CMU to further strengthen its medical education and training.”

Beth Charlton, president and CEO of Covenant HealthCare, said the gift is a continuation of the health system’s decades-long support for medical education and is the “right thing to do” for the people and communities Covenant serves.

“Individuals and families across our region are experiencing an increasingly critical need for well-educated medical professionals,” Charlton said. “Our investment in the CMU College of Medicine reflects both our belief in CMU and our unwavering determination to deliver extraordinary care for generations to come.”

Donor generosity from throughout fiscal year 2025 supports students across each of the university’s seven colleges and its athletics programs, Cotter said. Highlights include:

• Additional commitments of $7.5 million and $1.5 million for the College of Medicine’s Advancing Health Together initiative.
• A $5 million anonymous gift that will kick-start construction of an indoor/outdoor, year-round campus golf facility for the men’s and women’s golf teams. 
• A $2 million gift from retired physician and professor Marilyn Haupt to establish a faculty chair in medical research and a College of Medicine student research endowment. Her funding will advance research into causes and origins of disease and the pursuit of wide-ranging scientific endeavors. 
• CMU’s first nursing scholarship, created by Sydney Walston in honor of his wife, Mary Walston. Both taught in CMU’s health services department, where Syd also served as department chair and Mary pushed for creation of a nursing program. Their gift of $160,000 established two endowments at CMU, including the nursing scholarship.
• Naming of the Otteman Memorial Greenspace between Finch Fieldhouse and the Health Professions Building, honoring $100,000 in lifetime giving and a legacy gift from Tim Otteman, chair of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration.

“CMU faculty and staff are known for their deep connection to students. Their relationships with students and alumni, and their gifts, make CMU a special place,” Cotter said. “Our team loves finding creative ways for donors to expand their connections with CMU and its students.”

As CMU celebrates its 133rd anniversary in September, its alumni continue to meet the historic need for teachers and business leaders while also helping to boost growing academic programs such as the university’s health care degrees.

Central this fall will welcome its first class of on-campus bachelor’s degree nursing students. The College of Medicine recently graduated its eighth class of physicians, and CMU’s nationally recognized programs in audiology, physician assistant and physical therapy continue to produce highly sought-after graduates.

“Donors are lighting the way forward with energy and excitement for CMU and its real-world experiences, which help students learn to innovate, lead and drive solutions,” Cotter said. 

MacKinnon, who became CMU’s 16th president last fall, said donors and the Advancement team have set an extraordinary pace.

“Only the best universities see fundraising leaps like what CMU just experienced,” he said. “I appreciate every donor who’s fired up for CMU’s future. I also thank Vice President Cotter and our dedicated advancement and alumni engagement team members, who help donors forge a lasting legacy."