Why Give

Our vision

UMS strives to become more than a world-class arts presenting organization. Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity, connecting audiences with artists in transformative ways.

UMS is part of the Victors for Michigan campaign at the University of Michigan. The Victors for UMS campaign, co-chaired by Maxine Frankel and Dr. James Stanley, has a total goal of $50 million.

More than half of that — $30 million — is designed to build our endowment so that we can make long-term commitments to:

Access & Inclusiveness

Providing opportunities for anyone and everyone to discover and experience the transformative power of the performing arts through affordable tickets, free educational events, and community-building activities.

Engaged Learning through the Arts

Integrating the performing arts into the student experience at all levels to encourage creative thinking, collaboration, and experimentation and to create meaningful connections between arts and life.

Bold Artistic Leadership

Solidifying UMS’s position as a recognized national and international artistic leader through bold programming, producing, and commissioning that reflect our commitment to both tradition and innovation.

The Need

Ticket sales cover less than 40 percent of our operating costs. The rest comes from grants, sponsorships, and gifts from donors like you. Explore our annual report for a more detailed look at our financials.