News Releases

ANN ARBOR — The Institute for Social Research (ISR) is committed to prioritizing research, scholarship, and innovation by investing in an outstanding scholarly community. With scholars of the highest caliber, and a climate of collaboration, ISR is poised to unlock the potential of scientific progress to address today’s most pressing challenges, driving innovation in the research ecosystem while generating informed solutions to real-world problems.

This fall, ISR is launching a new philanthropic campaign, aimed at bolstering and reimagining the global research ecosystem while driving transformational change in the social sciences.

Advances in the social sciences occur on the boundaries between and among academic disciplines. To ensure that these important new advances achieve their greatest scale and impact, it is critical to work across disciplines and empower diverse talent, especially among researchers early in their careers. These efforts will drive all fields toward transformational breakthroughs, while building true partnerships driven by creating impact.

ISR’s philanthropic campaign will focus on four main pillars to achieve this vision:

• Training and Education: As a hub for innovative interdisciplinary research that trains over 1,000 scholars each year, ISR is a natural lever to enhance diversity in the research community. ISR is committed to investing thoughtfully in pathway programs, training opportunities, and support — both financial and community-based — for early-career researchers from underrepresented groups.
• Infrastructure and Innovation: Scientific discoveries cannot take place without strong data resources and research funding. ISR will continue to lead the way in the pursuit of transformational science by creating an environment where good ideas can thrive.
• Methods: ISR is a leader in both traditional and innovative approaches to social science research methodology. As such, ISR is ideally positioned to bridge the gaps between diverse methodological approaches to paint a more complete picture of social processes and effects.
• Community: With students and faculty of the highest caliber and a unique climate of transdisciplinary collaboration, ISR is poised to unlock the potential of scientific progress. ISR is an ideal place to bring together key stakeholders across the University of Michigan, the United States, and the world.

“Partnering with ISR is an opportunity to drive essential scientific discourse, exchange and social policy,” said Kate Cagney, director of ISR. “Thanks to the generous gifts of past contributors, we’ve been able to continue to pursue our mission of social science in the public interest, and we hope that future gifts will allow ISR to safeguard and expand that mission for generations to come.”

ISR’s campaign goal to achieve these ambitious targets is $75 million and is part of the university-wide “Look to Michigan” campaign. This number honors the rich history of ISR, coinciding with ISR’s 75th anniversary this year.

Throughout the journey to facilitate this important work, ISR will strive to cultivate and grow many relationships while building a broad base of support. All partnerships, both large and small, will be critical.

“We rely on all our campaign partners to continue our mission, regardless of the size of their contribution,” said Henry Jewell, director of development at ISR. “Every dollar raised through this campaign could be a part of a new research method or a critical piece of funding for an up-and-coming scholar or a training program for some of the thousands of researchers ISR helps develop every year. Everyone who contributes is a part of ISR’s ongoing leadership in the social sciences.”

To give to the campaign or to learn more about charitable giving at ISR, click here or connect with Henry Jewell, director of development at ISR, via email at [email protected].