National Recognition

The UMS Dual Endowment Challenge

UMS is the only university presenter in the U.S. to have received endowment challenge grants from two of the leading national arts foundations. These challenge grants will multiply the impact of endowment gifts made to UMS over the next few years.

In June 2005, UMS was one of only six organizations across the country to receive a Wallace Foundation Excellence Award in the program' s inaugural year. The $1 million award will create an endowment to build arts participation and must be matched by an additional $1 million in endowment gifts to UMS before June 2009.

In June 2006, UMS was one of only three organizations across the country to receive a grant through the Leading College and University Presenters Program of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The $750,000 grant includes a $500,000 endowment challenge, which must be matched by $1 million in endowment gifts to UMS by June 2008.