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.
Every gift to UMS seeds moments of inspiration. Your gift can help us continue to provide:
$100+
Ticket subsidies for six U-M students
$250+
A masterclass, class visit, or Q&A with a visiting artist
$500+
Ticket subsidies for one U-M class to attend a UMS performance
$1,000+
Paid internships at UMS
$2,500+
Ticket subsidies and transportation grants for underserved schools
$5,000+
School Day Performance and in-school workshops with teaching artists
$15,000+
Mainstage performance support/sponsorship
Support What Interests You
Your investment makes it possible for us to fulfill our mission. Designate your gift to the area that matters to you most:
Annual Fund
In a typical season, ticket sales cover about 40% of UMS’s operating expenses to present more than 60 performances and extensive educational and community programming. Your support of the UMS Annual Fund is an investment in exceptional artistic experiences in our community, ensuring that UMS is able to bring world-class performing artists from across the globe to Southeast Michigan each year. In addition, your Annual Fund support makes possible the kind of personal, informative conversations and contextual learning opportunities you’ve come to expect from UMS — all free of charge for the public.
U-M Student Experiences
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 $15 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
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
Adventurous Programming
Support the increasingly important work of adventurous artists who take risks, defy convention, and push the boundaries of their craft–sparking opportunities for dialogue and inquiry
Support adventurous programming
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 of and/or in honor of, so we can ensure proper recognition.
Connect With Us
For assistance, please contact the Development Office at 734-764-8489, or email Annual Giving Manager Rachelle Michelon.
Mailing Address
UMS
Attn: Development Office
881 N University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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.