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Individual Giving

As the Leader and Best among nonprofit university arts presenters, UMS aims to bring the transformative power of music, theater, and dance to audiences, students, and community members across generations.

Make a Gift

Your investment makes it possible for us to fulfill our mission. Discover the ways to support UMS that are most meaningful to you:

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Artistic Season

In a typical season, ticket sales cover about 40% of UMS’s operating expenses to present more than 60 performances and extensive educational programming. As we continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic, we are relying on our patrons and supporters now more than ever. We invite you to Stay Present with UMS through your participation and financial commitment as we continue to invest in artists through virtual performances, digital artist residencies, and the kind of personal, informative conversations to add context you’ve come to expect from UMS — all free of charge for the public, creating expanded access to the performing arts across the country and beyond.

Support the season

U-M Student Experiences

University of Michigan students

UMS and the University of Michigan are proud to have one of the highest student attendance rates of university arts presenters nationwide. Your support makes it possible for us to offer affordable $12 and $20 tickets to high school and college students all season, master classes and opportunities to interact with guest artists, and arts industry internships — ensuring future generations of arts enthusiasts, advocates, and supporters.

Support U-M student experiences

K-12 Student Experiences

K-12 Dance Workshop

We believe every child deserves access to the arts. UMS has expanded its commitment to providing children with access to high-quality performing arts experiences through in-person and virtual School Day Performances and workshops, easy-to-use online classroom tools like learning guides, and our online Performance Playground series.

Support K-12 student experiences

No Safety Net 3.0: A Renegade FestivalRenegade Programming

Support the increasingly important work of adventurous artists who take risks, defy convention, and push the boundaries of their craft. The biennial No Safety Net festival tackles contemporary issues with opportunities for dialogue and inquiry (announced in September 2022).

Support adventurous programming

Connect With Us

For assistance, please contact the Development Office at 734-764-8489, or email Annual Giving Manager Rachelle Michelon.

Tribute Gifts

UMS is grateful to accept tribute gifts in memory or honor of individuals. These donations can be made online or mailed directly to the Development Office. Please include a note describing who the donation is in memory and/or honor of, so we can ensure proper recognition.

Invest in our future

Endowment Fund

Endowment funds work together with operating funds to provide a diversified financial portfolio that addresses both current and long-term needs. They also allow UMS to plan further ahead and make commitments to major artistic projects (such as commissions) that must sometimes be secured several years in advance.

UMS’s endowment funds are managed by the University of Michigan, which earns one of the highest rates of return among university endowments. To make a gift to the UMS endowment fund with cash, appreciated stocks, or through a planned gift, please contact the development office.

Legacy Giving

Including UMS in your estate plan will help ensure that the extraordinary impact of the performing arts will continue in southeastern Michigan for generations to come.