The University of Montana Foundation calls its annual giving program the Excellence Fund because it provides the educational enhancements that gives UM its margin of excellence.
Most gifts are for donor-determined designations.
Of the portion that is undesignated, UM President George Dennison determines priorities for support and the Fund allows him to respond to opportunities that cannot be anticipated in a biennial budget. While nearly 15,000 individuals and organizations offered financial support for The University of Montana in FY 2000, the Foundation encourages many other alumni and friends to take advantage of the opportunity to assisist the University and therefore share in the pride of its accomplishments. This total includes both gifts to areas selected by donors and unrestricted gifts. The Drive was begun in 1978 by a group of local businessmen who wanted to cement a relationship of economic interdependence between the University and community. To support their belief that the University was important to the community, an economic impact study was commissioned by the Missoula Business Drive.