The document summarizes the 2020 impact report for the University of Michigan Athletics Champions Fund. It details that since 2018, donors have provided nearly $2.5 million in support through the fund. This year saw a 33% increase in donors, bringing the total to nearly 4,000. The growing support allows student-athletes to access resources for career development, nutrition, strength training, and more. It provides statistics on donor demographics and how donations were allocated to areas like counseling, international travel, recruiting, and nutrition. It highlights stories from coaches and athletes. Finally, it announces the Champions Challenge fundraising campaign to increase donors to 4,500.

1. 2020 IMPACT REPORT

3. Since the inception of the Champions Fund in 2018, generous donors have
been able to provide student-athletes at Michigan with nearly $2.5 million
of support.
These loyal contributions provide much-needed access to career
development, performance nutrition, strength and conditioning, and other
essential resources for our student-athletes’ success in the classroom
and on the field. This year, the Champions Fund saw a 33% increase in the
number of donors from its 2018–19 campaign, bringing the number of all-
time donors to nearly 4,000. The growing support for the Champions Fund
has allowed student-athletes to thrive in all facets of their University of
Michigan experience.
YEAR
IN
REVIEW

4. Through your support of the Champions Fund, our athletic department is able
to provide unprecendented support in the most meaningful areas for student-
athletes at the University of Michigan.
OUR
MISSION
Counseling Career and Leadership
Development
Nutrition Athletic Medicine
Strength and
Conditioning
International Travel
Recruiting

5. DID YOU KNOW?
More than 20% of Michigan Athletics’ annual operating
budget comes from private philanthropic donations.
Without the support of our generous donors, Michigan Athletics would not
be able to comprehensively support our more than 900 student-athletes.
Michigan Athletics invests $15 million annually to these specific areas of
need while receiving:
$0
in Michigan tax
revenue
$0
from the State of
Michigan budget
$0
from the University of
Michigan budget
$0
from University of
Michigan student
fees
THE
NEED

6. Every donor truly has an impact on Michigan Athletics. From small to large
annual contributions, every donation helps to support student-athletes and
allow them to pursue success in the classroom and on the field.
48%
Under $150
34%
$150–$499
9%
$500–$999
100%
of donations
help support
Michigan Athletics
4%
$1,000–$1,999
2%
$2,000–$4,999
2%
$5,000–$19,999
2%
$5,000–$19,999
IMPACT

7. 2,221
Michigan
287
West 436
South
357
Northeast
627
Midwest
16
Canada
1
Germany
1
Taiwan
3,946
Number of Champions
Fund supporters since
its launch
2,109
Number of Champions Fund
supporters with season
tickets to football,
men’s basketball,
and/or hockey
1,837
Number of Champions Fund
supporters without season
tickets to football,
men’s basketball,
and/or hockey
IMPACT

8. 8.4%
You fostered a mindset of global
acceptance and cultural awareness
through immersive experiences.
20.04%
You enabled Michigan Athletics
to find the best and brightest
anywhere in the world to join the
Maize and Blue ranks.
Your gifts to the
Champions Fund in
2019–20 supported ...
Collectively you gave
$1,498,508
You are one of
2,256
champions
38.14%
You enhanced physical health and
safety procedures in the wake of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
5.74%
You opened doors for student-
athletes to receive free mental
heatlh care.
4.16%
You fueled meals for student-
athletes and educated them
on healthy eating for training,
recovery and performance.
3.39%
You prepared student-athletes
for life beyond athletics with
an array of professional and
educational career programs.
19.59%
You amplified the physical and
physiological preparation efforts of
our student-athletes to compete
on the national stage.

9. “Gifts to the Champions Fund have allowed Michigan Athletics to spend a
considerable amount of time researching and implementing the latest science
related to all aspects of mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Your incredible
contributions are the reason we’ve been able to develop educated strategies
that keep our student-athletes safe.”
DARRYL CONWAY
SENIOR ASSOCIATE AD, CHIEF HEALTH & WELFARE OFFICER
$100
for two dozen N95 masks
or four hand sanitizer cases
$250
for one knee scooter
ambulatory aid
$500
for one medical kit/bag
ATHLETIC MEDICINE
WHAT YOUR DONATION PROVIDES:

10. “Where do I start? We have a tremendous Health & Wellness team here
at Michigan and the resources that are put into our student-athletes are
incredible. We truly are the Leaders & Best when it comes to making sure our
student-athletes have what they need to be the best versions of themselves.
When our athletic training, strength and conditioning, and nutrition staff have
everything they need to support our student-athletes, it just makes our job as
coaches that much easier. It’s much appreciated and valued.”
SADDI WASHINGTON, MEN’S BASKETBALL ASSISTANT COACH
The Michigan Athletics Career Center (MACC) is committed to the career
development of the University of Michigan student-athletes through
comprehensive and transformative experiences that empower the Leaders
and Best. The program provides opportunities to engage with a global
network and create relationships that foster a lifetime of success. MACC
has served more than 700 student-athletes representing 90% of our
teams including cheer and dance.
758 corporate
partners
4 yearly career
ventures/trips
25 yearly career
events and workshops
BY THE NUMBERS:
CAREER PREPARATION
WHAT YOUR DONATION SUPPORTS:

11. “In order for our student-athletes to be successful as people, as students, and as
athletes, not only do they need to focus on being physically fit but they need to
focus on being fit mentally and emotionally. The counseling resource available for
our student-athletes as individuals and as teams allows for them to work out the
mental and emotional skills they need so they can perform at the highest levels.”
JENNIFER KLEIN, WOMEN’S SOCCER HEAD COACH
$50
one 45-minute
counseling session
$250
one coaches forum that aims to bring
new techniques and skills on mental
and physical wellness topics
$5,000
purchases 200 Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy books for student-athletes
to help advance performance
and/or mental health goals
COUNSELING
WHAT YOUR DONATION PROVIDES:

12. “Getting the opportunity to travel to Rome, Paris and South Africa during my
time at Michigan was truly life-changing. In high school, I would have never
imagined myself standing in front of the Colosseum at age 17. But that is the
Michigan difference for you! I can’t express how thankful I am to everyone
who has made these international trips possible. You have changed the lives
of many Michigan student-athletes creating experiences that are once in a
lifetime ... Being exposed to different cultures and having the perspective of
how truly minuscule we are as people in the broad scheme of things is truly
humbling. I have learned a lot about myself, relationships and history by going
on these trips and will forever be in debt to Michigan.”
BEN MASON, FOOTBALL, CLASS OF 2021, BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION MAJOR
$50
baggage fees for one
student-athlete
$150
one night in a hotel for a
student-athlete
$2,000
one international
round trip flight
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
WHAT YOUR DONATION PROVIDES:
HOTEL

13. “Training and practice can make you a good athlete. But adding in nutritional
health can elevate you to an elite performer. Offering coaching on life skills
like menu planning and grocery shopping, what to eat before a workout, or
how to recover after training are no longer optional resources for our student-
athletes. They are necessary training tools to stay competitive, and more
importantly, keep these young men and women healthy given the rigorous and
unique demands on their bodies.” CAROLINE MANDEL, DIRECTOR OF
PERFORMANCE NUTRITION
$50
breakfast, lunch and two
snacks for a student-athlete
$150
495 pints of milk
for recovery
$500
a week of bagels at
ALL of the fueling stations
NUTRITION
WHAT YOUR DONATION PROVIDES:
MILK

14. “Michigan prides itself on seeking out the best of the best prospects from all
parts of the world to attend the finest university in the world. Both national
and global student-athletes view Michigan as an opportunity to excel in the
classroom, mold their career interests, and utilize educational resoures to
facilitate their growth as student-athletes. Donor support helps position
Michigan Athletics as the pathway that can further develop student-athletes in
fulfilling their dreams and aspirations.”
MARCELO LEONARDI, WATER POLO HEAD COACH
BENEFITS OF AN OFFICIAL VISIT:
Paid transportation for the prospect to visit the campus
Paid lodging while on visit
Complimentary admission for the prospect to certain Michigan Athletics events
Tours of athletics facilities
Meetings with academic staff/counselors
Meetings with coaches, interactions with current Michigan athletes
TOTAL OFFICAL RECRUITING VISITS (2019–20): 345
Men’s visits: 161
Women’s visits: 184
Visits ended in February due to current COVID pandemic
RECRUITING
WHAT YOUR DONATION SUPPORTS:

15. “The strength and conditioning program at the University of Michigan has
provided me a foundation for success that I will carry far past my four years
of collegiate athletics. The trust I have in the coaches and the process they’ve
developed of individualized workouts, healthy habits, injury recovery and
rehab techniques has transformed me into a complete athlete. I will forever
be grateful for the strength, both physical and mental, that the program has
given me. I couldn’t be happier to be a member of the Michigan athletic family
and am proud to call myself a Wolverine!” SARAH SCHAEFER, SOFTBALL,
CLASS OF 2021 SOCIOLOGY MAJOR
$100
for a pair of
weightlifting shoes
$1,000
for an indoor rowing
machine
$350
for two sets of
battle ropes
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
WHAT YOUR DONATION PROVIDES:

16. Fall in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is unlike any other experience. With a distinct feeling in the air, the town fills with
passionate fans, joining together in solidarity under one banner, emphatically proclaiming in one collective voice:
GO BLUE. HAIL TO THE VICTORS.
This fall will be different. The cheer of victory, replaced with the hollow echo of wind whispering through an empty
Big House. Tailgate rivalries and reunions abandoned, leaving hushed, vacated parking lots in their stead.
So yes, this fall will be different. But our responsibility to our student-athletes remains largely unchanged. Mental
health counseling will continue to be offered. Career preparation resources will remain available. Nutritional meal
assistance will be prioritized. Recruiting commitments will be honored. These young men and women trusted us with
their education, their development, their futures. We are Michigan. We will honor our commitments to our student-
athletes.
With that in mind, we are excited to launch the Champions Challenge, a fundraising campaign seeking to increase
the number of supporters to the Michigan Athletics Champions Fund to 4,500 donors, roughly the equivalent of 4% of
Michigan supporters in the Big House on a given Saturday.
By reaching this goal, we will continue to provide resources vital to the growth and development of our student-
athletes.
WHAT’S NEXT:
CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE
MGOBLUE.COM/CHALLENGE @UMICHATHLETICS
Champions Fund supporters will receive inside access to Michigan Athletics
and unique engagement opportunites throughout the 2020–21 academic year.