September 25, 2020

Dear Campus Community,

In fall 2018, we launched the public phase of Campaign Montana with the goal of inspiring $400 million in private support to elevate every UM student, college, school and program. Following a successful seven-year engagement of UM alumni and friends, Campaign Montana concluded on Aug. 31. I am humbled to share with you the impact it had, and will continue to have, for our students and campus.

Our remarkable giving community contributed more than $450.9 million, making Campaign Montana the largest and most impactful fundraising effort in state history.

More than 34,000 generous donors contributed to Campaign Montana — including many of you here on campus — demonstrating a deep well of support for and belief in our students and our mission. In addition, many campus leaders served as campaign ambassadors to alumni and donors. These members of the UM family helped to articulate the transformational difference philanthropic giving can have. I thank you.

The impact of donors’ giving can be seen and felt across campus, including:

• More than $126 million for student scholarships and support, enhancing access to higher education, strengthening professional academic advising services and delivering the critical services students need to persist and succeed toward graduation.
• More than $91 million for academic programs, helping to launch or elevate innovative programs like UM Health & Medicine, EdReady, the S.E.A. Change Initiative, neuroscience education, ecology programs and others.
• More than $50 million to elevate learning environments. Examples include the addition to the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education, renovations in Eck Hall and construction of the Sprunk Student-Athlete Academic Center and Washington-Grizzly Champions Center.
• More than $45 million to support new impactful positions, including the Sprunk and Burnham Dean’s Chair in the College of Business, the Lucile Speer Research Chair in Politics and History, endowed chairs in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, the Dave and Suzanne Peterson Endowed Professorship in Gifted Education, the Suzanne and Bruce Crocker Director of the Montana Museum of Art and Culture, a professorship in music and others.

Your dedication to our mission and your passion for educating the next generation of leaders and problem solvers are what motivate our donors to give. From your work to mentor and guide students, foster healthy communities, advance research and partner with business communities, you form the foundation of an organization that others recognize to be critical to our collective future.

As our global society faces tremendous challenges, I am grateful that UM donors continue to recognize the vital role we play in building a prosperous future for all. In addition to giving more than $108,000 to the Emergency Student Support Fund for students struggling to meet basic needs due to the pandemic, donor support is helping UM students access laptops and other remote learning tools and purchase protective gear to remain safe during experiential learning opportunities.

I invite you to read this news release for more details on campaign Montana, including information about the transformative effect campaign giving will have on thousands of students and the entire UM community for years to come. Throughout the fall, you will continue to hear about the Campaign’s ripple effects, and I hope you will visit the Campaign Montana website to learn more.

Campaign Montana is proof positive that the passion and loyalty of UM’s giving community make possible big ambitions and bold visions.

Again, I thank you for your part in the success of Campaign Montana.

Seth