The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has announced its highest fundraising year in the history of the university. Between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, more than 5,000 donors gave a total of $46.3 million to the UWM Foundation, which supports UWM. The previous record, set in 2018, was $38.6 million.
“This tremendous show of support from our donors provides critical resources for our students and faculty, while strengthening our service to the community,” UWM Chancellor Mark Mone said. “It is a reflection of the value of our work, and I’m grateful for the enduring investment in our mission.”
Major gifts from the past year included a record-breaking $20 million gift from the Zilber Family Foundation to support faculty excellence and student achievement in UWM’s Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health.
In addition, the Kohler Trust for Clean Water gave the UWM Foundation $1.3 million to support construction of UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences’ state-of-the-art Research Vessel Maggi Sue.
In April, UWM hosted its fourth annual UWM Giving Days, which raised more than $1.3 million from 2,001 donors.
“Every single gift to the UWM Foundation makes a difference,” UWM Vice Chancellor of University Advancement Joan Nesbitt said. “And each gift tells a story about the donor’s values and interests. Our donors are helping us make history at UWM, but beyond fundraising totals, their support of our students’ dreams is inspiring and life changing.”
Support for UWM comes from alumni, friends of the university, nonprofit organizations and corporations. Their philanthropic gifts support university programming, student scholarships and faculty research, while unrestricted funds allow the university to address challenges and opportunities as they arise.
Philanthropy plays a key role in student success at UWM. Approximately 80% of UWM students receive need-based financial aid and/or scholarships to help them stay on the path to graduation. According to the office of Federal Student Aid, the average UWM student experiences a gap of $7,500 per year between the cost of pursuing their degree and the amount of financial aid they receive. This gap is larger at UWM than at any other campus in the Universities of Wisconsin.
