Background
Since 1945, the University of Wisconsin Foundation has been a steward of private support, accepting, administering and distributing gift dollars on behalf of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. These gifts, which supplement state and federal dollars, support many programs and projects not possible through conventional funding sources.
The Foundation engages those who care about the University, provides opportunities to enhance its teaching, research and outreach programs, and guarantees ethical stewardship of the gifts.
As a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt Wisconsin corporation that raises, invests and distributes funds for the benefit of the UW-Madison, the Foundation receives thousands of contributions annually from alumni, corporations, foundations, faculty and staff, and other friends of the University. Among the initiatives supported through gift dollars are scholarships, professorships, fellowships, building projects and more.
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors elected through a ballot of Foundation members. President Mike Knetter reports to the board.
In 2009, the UW Foundation received 113,545 gifts for a total of $191.7 million. Payments made to or on behalf of the UW-Madison in 2009 totaled more than $200 million. Assets under management are more than $2.5 billion. The Foundation’s cost to raise a dollar has been under 7 percent the last five years, well below national averages.
While the Foundation is an independent organization, the staff works closely with University administration and faculty to match academic opportunities with private support.
