Honor the Past. Empower the Future.
Support a More Inclusive Campus
The Raimey-Noland Campaign promotes giving to diversity and inclusion efforts within every UW–Madison unit. The campaign also features the Raimey-Noland Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Fund. Directed by UW–Madison’s chancellor, the Raimey-Noland Fund supports campuswide efforts to make the university community more welcoming, in addition to school- or college-specific efforts.
Badgers open doors. The Raimey-Noland Campaign is another step in UW–Madison’s efforts to promote a sense of belonging among all members of the campus community. Within every program on campus, we are working to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
This campaign draws attention to and seeks support for work that aims to create a community of many perspectives where people feel they belong — work going on at the broad campus level and within individual schools, colleges, and departments, as well as in athletics programs. Raimey-Noland supports a variety of funds that reflect its multifaceted goals: to enroll more students from underrepresented backgrounds, attract diverse faculty, staff, and mentors, support research on social and racial justice issues, and provide more academic support and career preparation to enable a thriving campus community.
The campaign is named for the UW’s first known female and male Black graduates, Mabel Watson Raimey 1918 and Wiliam Smith Noland 1875, and it aims to inspire a new era of giving and honor the past. Noland was a member of the first Black family to settle in Madison. Raimey, who grew up in Milwaukee, became the first Black woman to practice law in Wisconsin. Raimey and Noland opened doors for Badgers of all backgrounds, who in turn were pioneers in their fields:
- George Poage 1903, MAx1904 the first African American to win an Olympic medal
- S. I. Hayakawa PhD’35, one of the first Japanese Americans elected to the U.S. Senate
- Vel Phillips LLB’51, the first Black woman to serve as a judge in Wisconsin
- Lorraine Hansberry x’52, the first Black woman to have a play on Broadway
- Ada Deer ’57, the first woman to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs
You Belong Here.
Diversity, says Vice Chancellor LaVar Charleston MS’07, PhD’10, is a source of strength. It encourages all Badgers to be their genuine selves, helping the UW get the best out of those who come here. With the Raimey-Noland Campaign, UW–Madison is working to ensure that every student with potential feels at home on campus. Join us in opening doors for future Badgers.
Campaign Goals
Launched in March 2021, the Raimey-Noland Campaign aims to increase funding for programs and research that will promote diversity and equity at every level and within every program at UW–Madison.
Join us in creating a campus community that is welcoming to all talented minds. Help open doors at UW–Madison so that the university can attract the bold leaders who will extend the legacy of Raimey and Noland. The UW is grateful for gifts of all sizes, including deferred gifts. For more information, email Josh Woolfolk.