Northern Michigan University will participate for the first time in Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving, on Nov. 28.  Celebrated after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday kicks off the charitable season when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. The NMU President's Council, Alumni and Foundation Boards. and the NMU Board of Trustees have kickstarted the campaign, with members already pledging significant contributions.  

The NMU campus community, the Marquette region and alumni from around the world will be coming together to give and pledge resources in support of student opportunities, research, scholarship, leadership and innovative academic programming along with a student-led effort to fill the shelves of NMU’s recently opened Food Pantry.

Participation in Giving Tuesday is one of a number of new initiatives launched over the past year. These initiatives have already begun to deliver results. Fiscal year 2017, which ran from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, saw a 63 percent increase in outright gifts, pledges and expectancies. This fiscal year is on track for further gains. In addition, over the past year, the Foundation has been quickly developing and revamping policies and procedures to increase fundraising effectiveness and the impact of donor gifts.

President Erickson recently commented on the importance of private giving by noting, “Donor-funded giving directly impacts Northern academic and service departments and the students we serve, but it also directly and indirectly impacts the community through community member use of our programs, services and facilities.”

Mark Pynnonen ’83, president of the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees, added, “When I attended NMU 35 years ago, about 75 percent of the University’s funding came from the state. Today it is only about 25 percent. Private support is not just helpful anymore, it is necessary. I had wonderful experiences at NMU and am happy to provide additional support. We invite others to do the same.”

On Giving Tuesday, give, share and track progress on NMU’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn channels, or go to nmu.edu/give.

This story was prepared by Vince Grout of the NMU Foundation.