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The Michigan Difference Campaign Concludes with New President’s Challenge!

What is the President's Challenge?

President Mary Sue Coleman has created the President's Challenge to enhance funding for one of the University of Michigan's highest priorities: financial aid for graduate students. Fellowships and other awards allow Michigan to compete with peer institutions in attracting the brightest and most creative graduate students and supporting them through rigorous academic endeavors.

How the President's Challenge Benefits Rackham Donors and Rackham Students

Your gift to Rackham will be matched by the President to leverage additional funds for graduate student support. In addition, your gift will be recognized at the giving level which includes the Challenge monies.

How the President's Challenge Works

Match Amounts

Every $2 contributed for graduate student support will be matched by $1 from the President. The match will be made as soon as each gift or pledge payment is made.

New Pledges

New pledges can be established for a maximum of five years.

Corporate Matches

Corporate matches for an employee's gift are eligible to be matched by the Challenge if the money comes in before December 31, 2008.

Expendable Gifts

An expendable gift of any amount to a Rackham fund designated for student support will be matched by the President. The matching monies will go into a Rackham endowed fund that will be used for student support now and in the future.

Current Named Endowments

New gifts to already established named endowments are eligible to be matched by the President's Challenge.

New Endowments

A pledge or gift of $50,000 or more will create a named donor endowed fund and is eligible to be matched by the President's Challenge.

Time Frame

The Challenge will run from September 1, 2007, and continue until $40 million is committed in gifts to support graduate students, triggering $20 million in Presidential matching money.

You Make the Difference!

The President's Challenge provides a wonderful opportunity for Rackham friends and alumni to build a future of greater educational opportunities for the next generation of graduate students. By leveraging your gift through the Challenge, you can help educate a new generation of professors, researchers and community leaders who will gain the education and training that is needed to shape our future world.