Support UMSI students this Giving Blueday

On Giving Blueday — the University of Michigan’s annual day of giving — alumni, community members and friends of the School of Information will come together globally to support what they love about UMSI. Giving Blueday falls on Wednesday, March 19, with gifts counted from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Make a Gift

This year, UMSI invites donors to directly support students by making a gift to one of six funds:

UMSI Student Emergency Fund

This fund provides financial support to students who face emergency situations or one-time, unforeseen expenses during their degree programs. Last fiscal year, UMSI provided $63,190 in emergency funding to 32 students. The need for this support currently exceeds the funding available. A contribution to the Student Emergency Fund on Giving Blueday ensures that students have the safety net they need to focus on their education without interruption . 

Gifts made to any UMSI fund on Giving Blueday will be matched 1:1 up to $2,500 with a gift to the Student Emergency Fund by UMSI Advisory Board member Rodger Devine (BA ’02, MSI ’11). 

“I chose to support the UMSI Student Emergency Fund to make a difference by directly helping students who need extra support to navigate unexpected challenges and stay focused on their academic goals,” Devine said. “One day I hope these students will also choose to pay it forward. Go Blue and Go UMSI!"

UMSI Go Blue Graduate Scholarship Fund

Through this fund, we continue our commitment to making graduate school affordable for more Michigan residents. The UMSI Go Blue Graduate Scholarship covers tuition and fees in the Master of Science in Information program or Master of Health Informatics program for selected students who qualified for free tuition as undergraduates through U-M’s Go Blue Guarantee.

UMSI Annual Fund

This flexible fund supports the highest priorities that arise within the UMSI community throughout the year. Gifts to the Annual Fund allow UMSI to say “yes” to opportunities like Alternative Spring Break, Citizen Interaction Design and study abroad, and to enrich students’ education by bringing thought leaders to campus. 

Gifts made to any UMSI fund on Giving Blueday will be matched 1:1 up to $1,250 with a gift to the Annual Fund by UMSI Advisory Board member Yunyao Li (MSI-MSE ’03, PhD ’07).

UMSI Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund

Gifts to the DEI Fund equip UMSI’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office with the funding they need to advance their goal of building community, expanding access and lowering barriers to a UMSI education so that every student can thrive. Students can also apply to use these funds for student-led DEI activities. This support helps create a welcoming environment for UMSI students, faculty and staff.

UMSI Graduate Scholarship Fund

Without scholarship support, an education at UMSI is not possible for some students who possess the potential to become leaders in the field of information. Gifts to this fund ensure UMSI’s programs are available to individuals from various economic backgrounds and helps fulfill our commitment to accessibility.

Gifts made to any UMSI fund on Giving Blueday will be matched 1:1 up to $3,000 with a gift from UMSI Advisory Board member John J. Cameron (MSE '67) to the Graduate Student Scholarship Fund. 

UMSI Undergraduate Scholarship Fund

By alleviating some of the financial pressure on undergraduate students, scholarship support enables them to make choices based on their values, skills and goals, instead of their debt. Often, scholarship support is what allows a student to choose a U-M education and pursue opportunities outside of the classroom that might otherwise have been out of reach.

Carrying the future

As an expression of gratitude, donors who contribute $75+ to UMSI this Giving Blueday will receive an exclusive tote bag designed by Master of Science in Information student Pedro Pazmino. 

As an international student, when I left home to pursue this program, I found another home in the UMSI community — a home where people from different backgrounds are invited to view the world from their own perspective, their own ‘window,’ and collaborate to make a difference in the world of information.

—Pedro Pazmino (MSI ’25)

During the UMSI Giving Blueday Celebration, held in North Quad from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., current UMSI students will have the opportunity to choose how $5,000 is distributed across these six funds, while learning about the donor-supported programs and initiatives that shape their UMSI experience. 

Visit UMSI’s Giving Blueday page to find your cause and make a gift.