Thank you

for helping me attend the school of my dreams

Thank you

for enabling me to become the first person in my family to attend a university

Thank You

for making such a huge difference in my life.

STAYING STRONG…
WITH YOUR SUPPORT.

Our continued strength comes from your support. Your Annual Fund gift assures that Ross will remain agile and assertive—ready to act, ready to innovate, ready to lead, and ready to drive the future of business education.

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Ways to Give

Your Annual Fund Gift will benefit the school in a myriad of ways by providing support on an as-needed basis for priority initiatives such as:
 

Scholarships that make it possible for the best BBA and MBA applicants to become Ross students—and alumni.  
Innovative programs and dynamic student-driven learning activities

MAP Program

Student-Led Investment Funds  

Support for leading-edge faculty research and ongoing professional development

Positive Organizational Scholarship  

Advanced technology and resources for real-time learning

Tozzi Electronic Business & Financial Center  

Faculty-student collaborations across campus and around the world

William Davidson Institute

Campaign Champion | Bharat Desai

One of the leadership gifts to the Victors for Michigan, Victory for Ross campaign is a $1 million commitment from the Desai Family Foundation.

This investment is earmarked to develop a business accelerator in Southeast Michigan.  The donors hope it will involve the new digital economy and the Michigan' automotive/manufacturing sector.

 “The family felt inspired to make the gift because we like to support causes that will have solid and widespread positive impact. We saw a chance to do so at a truly outstanding institution,” Desai says. The accelerator — a joint venture of the Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and the College of Engineering’s Center for Entrepreneurship — will offer infrastructure, mentoring, and financial support to qualified start-up companies. These investments will help companies become established and start growing on their own.

Desai knows something about succeeding as a startup; he cofounded and still serves as chairman of Syntel Inc., which has grown into a major worldwide IT services company. Combined with the world-class resources and reputation of the University of Michigan, Desai envisions the accelerator becoming a place that will attract interest from around the globe.

“This is a terrific opportunity for us to kick-start some great ideas for the state of Michigan,” he says.

Bharat Desai cofounded Syntel, Inc. with his spouse, Neerja Sethi, and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.Mr. Desai holds an MBA in Finance from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a Bachelor's of Technology in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mumbai, India. Mr. Desai was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005 by the Ross School of Business and was named Alumnus of the Year by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. He is also recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by USA Today and NASDAQ.

We saw a chance to make a positive impact at a truly outstanding institution.

— Bharat Desai, MBA ’81