Story of a faculty donor
Every day, the University of Minnesota transforms lives, advances new approaches to research and care, protects and sustains our planet, and drives innovation. And every day, we faculty and staff members bring these objectives to life. Driven: The University of Minnesota Campaign gives us the opportunity to shine a light on our work, build our community, and renew our commitment to the future by providing additional financial support.
Support the areas that mean the most to you. Make a monthly or one-time gift, or give through payroll deduction. Every gift counts!
Colleague donor stories
Faculty and staff at the University of Minnesota are making a difference in supporting all five priorities of the Driven fundraising campaign. Click on the icons or the photos below to learn how all of us at the U are creating a brighter tomorrow.

Serena Wright
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Lance Janssen
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Divah Yap
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Raj Singh
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Colin McFadden
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Christopher Weight
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Jenna Ray
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Lawrence Rudnick
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Connie Delaney
LEARN MOREGiving is in my DNA. I come from a large family, and if someone came over at dinner time, we all had to share. My mom would say, ‘We always have enough. We will always share.’ It’s important to give, even when it’s your last dollar, because there is always enough.
Role at the U: Senior alumni relations director, College of Education and Human Development
Giving: Student support, including a scholarship honoring her husband, College of Liberal Arts professor John S. Wright
With a planetarium, you can take people to places in the universe that they couldn’t go. You can get them to visualize things they couldn’t possibly see. You can inspire kids to get excited about the sky and think about space, science, and technology.
Role at the U: Distinguished teaching professor of astrophysics, College of Science and Engineering (CSE); consultant for Bell Museum’s new Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium
Giving: CSE and Bell Museum
I can travel anywhere, whether it’s in the metro area or around Minnesota or even globally, and meet recipients of the scholarship. Many are leading major initiatives in their countries or their universities. They’re changing lives.
Role at the U: Professor and dean at the School of Nursing
Giving: Established the Connie White Delaney Fellowship in Nursing Innovation; supports various School of Nursing initiatives
Employee giving FAQ
Faculty and staff already support University of Minnesota programs and students. This giving initiative is a way to invite others to join, tell their stories, and to convey the importance of faculty and staff giving to the U.
Because of their affiliation, employee participation in giving sends a strong message to other constituents—alumni, friends, parents, students, foundations, corporations, and legislators—that faculty and staff support the vision and direction of the University and are committed to its ongoing excellence.
Our overriding goal is to deepen the culture and habit of giving among faculty and staff that will live on beyond the scope of Driven. Every gift, no matter the size, brings us closer to realizing this vision. Our primary strategy is to increase overall giving participation among all employees, active and retired.
Since the Driven campaign launched in 2011, more than 12,100 faculty and staff have given to the U. This participation demonstrates employees’ commitment to the mission of the University.
First, the University of Minnesota is a nonprofit. It increasingly relies on private support to sustain its levels of excellence. As a nonprofit, the U is transforming lives, advancing new approaches to research and care, protecting and sustaining our planet, and driving innovation. Faculty, staff, and retirees play a special role at the heart of this work. This campaign gives us the opportunity to bring to light the power of the work faculty and staff do every day and celebrate the tremendous commitment they have to the work the U is doing by providing personal financial support.
Secondly, faculty and staff financial support represents much more than dollars. Employee participation is also about signaling the critical role faculty and staff members play as the heart of the institution.
- Recurring credit card, biweekly payroll deduction, and one-time credit card gifts can all be set up online: https://give.umn.edu/waystogive/faculty-staff
- Twin Cities employees can give to the U through the Community Fund Drive.
- Employees are encouraged to support their favorite U causes and take advantage of matches and prizes available on the University’s giving day, Give to the Max Day.
- Estate and planned gifts allow a donor to leave money or assets, including retirement plan assets, upon his or her death. For more information, contact UMF planned giving at 612-624-3333 or plgiving@umn.edu.
- Cash, check, or money order can be mailed, along with a gift form, to University of Minnesota Foundation, P.O. Box 860266, Minneapolis, MN 55486-0266.
- Call the University of Minnesota Foundation with questions: 612-624-3333