UW Schools Raise Money for Scholarships

Some University of Wisconsin school officials are beginning to fill budget holes through new fundraising efforts.

Next year, UW La Crosse officials will launch an aggressive fundraising campaign. They want to raise $15 million in seven years with the money going towards scholarships.

UWL Chancellor Joe Gow says this will help offset the school’s reduction in state funding and rising tuition costs. He says the school will approach a number of funding sources. “We will look at everything there is. Obviously alumni have been very generous and also there are businesses and organizations will help out and individuals. I’ll make a gift, I’m always excited about helping. We’ll be talking to lots of people.”

Last year, the UWL Foundation awarded $475,000 in scholarships.

At UW Madison, fundraising has historically been focused on major gifts. University of Wisconsin Foundation Chief of Staff Alisa Robertson says they are now looking at getting more alumni and donors to give smaller amounts. She says the university has benefited from state funding for years, but with funding down, Robertson says donors should look at the university as a charitable organization. “We’re at a point where we need to make a case to alumni to really articulate how valuable their gifts are to their alma mater and how important they are. If we can become one of the charitable organizations that alumni support each year that actually will go a long way to ensure the future of the university.”

Robertson says students have also begun their own fundraising campaigns, encouraging each other to donate upon graduation.