The EMU Foundation is an institutionally related nonprofit corporation that solicits and manages funds on behalf of Eastern Michigan University. Its primary mission is to provide additional support to the students, programs, services and educational community of EMU. The EMU Foundation was created in 1989 by the EMU Regents, and is governed by an independent Board of Trustees that elects its own officers. All trustees serve as volunteers.

In addition to fundraising exclusively on behalf of EMU, the Foundation manages the endowed assets of the University. Through investments and additional fundraising, the endowment has grown from $7.7 million in 1992 to $46.6 million at June 30, 2008.

Record fundraising of $7.9 million in fiscal year 2007-08 benefitted many areas at EMU, including student scholarships, the arts, academic programs and athletics.

The Foundation also maintains a database containing approximately 140,000 alumni living in all states across the United States as well as foreign nations. While most EMU alumni live and work in Southeast Michigan, several outreach events are planned each year with the EMU Office for Alumni Relations for alumni living in the Washington DC area, in Florida, the Southwest and in California.