For every student who signs up for the 3L Challenge, John Nannes, ’73, makes an immediate contribution of $250 to that student’s choice of student organization(s). In exchange for this gift to the student organization(s), the student commits to making a gift to the Law School Fund every year for the first four years following graduation.
The overarching objective of this challenge is to share with students the importance and impact of philanthropy on campus. Alumni give back generously so current and future students can have a great experience while on campus. This Challenge encourages students to think about paying it forward through their time and financial support as they graduate and become a member of our alumni community. The funding from John Nannes is a crucial part of many student organizations’ budgets; it allows students to plan activities in their extracurricular groups that they otherwise could not afford.
- The Law School currently receives less than 4% of its budget from the state (in 1953, the state provided 40.9% of the Law School’s budget). Tuition revenue alone is not enough to cover the remaining expenses.
- The Law School Fund supports the debt management program and provides need-based financial aid for current students.
- Alumni participation improves the school’s ability to leverage major gifts from individuals who are paying attention to what Michigan Law alumni are doing.
- Alumni participation bolsters the school’s ability to secure grants from national foundations and corporations.
- Currently, our educational programs rank at the top but our alumni participation in annual giving lags significantly behind our peers.
No, the idea is to educate students on the importance of annual giving with an emphasis on the four-year giving commitment, not on the total dollar amount. We encourage you to match John Nannes' $250 gift over the four years, but this is not required. We only ask that you give an amount that is affordable and meaningful to you.
A student pays nothing when they commit to the Nannes 3L Challenge but he/she does agree to make a gift every year for the first four years after graduation. The Law School Development Office will send you reminders and updates from current Nannes 3L Challenge participants. You will be able to make your gift online or complete the response form included in the direct mail reminder.
Gifts will be placed in the Law School Fund, the annual fund of the University of Michigan Law School. This program supports the following initiatives:
- Student scholarships
- Summer Fellowship Funding
- Debt Management Program
- Clinics