University of Minnesota Giving

06/11/2026

When Jason Kopacz was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at just 36 years old, he didn’t slow down, he laced up his running shoes and started moving forward.

Twelve years, 14,000 miles, and six marathons later, Jason continues to run not only for his own health, but for a future without Parkinson’s. Through the Team Kopacz Foundation, he has helped raise more than $250,000 to support Parkinson’s disease research at the University of Minnesota.

Read more about Jason’s inspiring story and make a gift to support groundbreaking Parkinson’s disease research today.

discoverymag.umn.edu/stories/research-in-stride

The University of Minnesota Foundation raises and manages gifts from individuals and organizations to support U of M causes. www.give.umn.edu

06/03/2026

This spring, more than 250 young raptors will arrive at The Raptor Center in need of lifesaving care. Thanks to a matching gift from loyal donors Ann and Tom Schwalen, every donation made today will be doubled up to $50,000.

Your support helps provide the food, medications, equipment, and expert care baby raptors need for a second chance at life. 🦉

crowdfund.umn.edu/campaigns/BabyRaptors26

05/27/2026

From climate policy work at the Capitol to ecology fieldwork in Ireland, Martha Wondimu is turning her passion for environmental justice into action 🌎

The third-year CFANS student is combining science, policy and hands-on experiences to shape a future focused on sustainability and meaningful change, all while discovering new opportunities through study abroad and scholarship support.

See how scholarship support is helping Martha pursue opportunities that are shaping her future: give.umn.edu/stories/bridging-science-and-society

05/21/2026

From reading textbooks at a one-dollar bookstore to becoming a second-year student at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Nicholas Chapman’s journey is powered by resilience and determination.

After experiencing homelessness as a teen, Nicholas found purpose in medicine through his desire to provide others with the sense of safety and trust he once searched for himself.

Read more about Nicholas’s inspiring story and learn how you can support students like him at: give.umn.edu/stories/safety-and-trust

05/19/2026

Every gift makes a difference, and today your impact goes twice as far. Thanks to The Raptor Center’s loyal donors Ann and Tom Schwalen, all gifts will be matched up to $50,000.

Each spring, more than 250 young raptors arrive at The Raptor Center in need of urgent care. From medications and specialized equipment to food and expert treatment, donor support makes lifesaving care possible.

Your gift can help provide:
🦅 One day of food for a baby bald eagle for $10
🪶 One week of food for a baby American kestrel for $20
🦉 One week of food for a baby great horned owl for $40

Learn more about how you can support TRC today: crowdfund.umn.edu/campaigns/BabyRaptors26

Help support community and outreach at the University of Minnesota.

05/12/2026

Could red seaweed help reduce cows’ methane emissions? 🌎🐄

Researchers at the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research and Outreach Center found that adding small amounts of red seaweed to dairy cattle diets reduced methane emissions by 30–40%, without affecting milk production. Supported by donor funding, this research is helping advance more sustainable solutions for agriculture.

Learn more about this research and its potential impact: https://bit.ly/4trdoOx

CFANS

05/07/2026

At the University of Minnesota Medical School, students like Lila Lohmiller are turning a passion for close-knit communities into a purpose-driven career. Through the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP), she’s gaining hands-on experience across the full spectrum of care and building meaningful relationships with patients every step of the way.

Learn more about their story and how to can support RPAP today at: give.umn.edu/stories/medicine-all-minnesota

05/05/2026

At University of Minnesota Morris, students like Connor Kuhn and Hannah Robertson are proving that curiosity, and a little ingenuity, can take you far. With no formal rocketry classes available, they built their own path, designing and launching “Morris Maang” as part of the Intercollegiate High-Powered Rocket Challenge.

With mentorship from the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium and dedicated faculty, their journey was powered by hands-on learning, collaboration, and determination. For Connor, the experience reinforced a lifelong passion for science, and a future goal of developing new treatments to fight disease.

Read more about their story at: https://give.umn.edu/stories/new-heights

04/30/2026

From navigating cancer to taking the stage, University of Minnesota senior Maddy Tax is celebrating five years cancer-free. Through every performance, mentorship, and opportunity, donor support helped make her path possible both on and off the stage. Now, she’s giving back, organizing a campus blood drive to honor the generosity that once saved her life.

Read more about her story and learn how you can show your support for students like Maddy today at: give.umn.edu/stories/life-giving-performance

04/28/2026

From concert halls to community spaces, University of Minnesota alumni are using creativity to shape culture, spark dialogue, and drive change.

Meet a group of artists, Dessa, Wing Young Huie, Ahmed Anzaldúa, and Craig Minowa, whose work spans music, photography, and social impact. Across disciplines, they share a common thread: using their art to explore identity, build community, and create meaningful change.

Their journeys reflect how the arts, grounded in a liberal arts education, can inspire innovation, amplify voices, and connect people in powerful ways.

Read more about each of their unique stories at: https://bit.ly/41YTn6G