Private Giving to UW Exceeds $24 Million

Aug. 18, 2006 -- Private giving to the University of Wyoming during the past fiscal year reached $24.3 million contributed by a record 26,778 alumni and friends.

The total gifts and pledges received included four gifts of more than $1 million. The largest gift to UW was a 400-acre land gift from the Warren Livestock Company. The donated land will be the site of the planned Jacoby Ridge development project.

"The continuation of generous giving to UW from our alumni and friends did not end with last fall’s celebration of the UW DISTINCTION campaign," says UW Foundation President Ben Blalock.

"The campaign, led by Chairman Al Simpson and the UW Foundation Board, over the last five years, significantly elevated private support for Wyoming's university. I am pleased to report that private giving to UW this past non-campaign year resulted in a record number of contributors and total gift dollars in line with the annual yearly average during the DISTINCTION campaign. It is clear that UW's alumni and friends are committed to the university's long term success."

In March of 2006, the Wyoming State Legislature made available $40 million to create a $25 million endowment fund pool and a $15 million facilities fund. Endowment gifts to UW of $50,000 or more will be doubled. A total of $9 million for academic facilities and $6 million for athletics facilities was set aside to match gifts of $25,000 or more. More than $10 million of the new $40 million matching fund total has been committed to UW to date.

The state legislature's matching fund programs have been well received by UW alumni and friends. In 2001, the legislature established a $30 million fund to match gifts of $50,000 or more for UW endowments. UW secured the full match in two and a half years.

The 2004 legislature voted to allocate an additional $18 million more for endowments, while at the same time recognizing a true need in the area of athletics facilities, Blalock says. The legislature established a $10 million fund to match gifts of $25,000 or more designated for athletic facilities, bringing the total state matching fund to $58 million during 2001-2004. Blalock says UW secured the second $28 million state match in only 14 months.

Established in 1962, the University of Wyoming Foundation solicits, receives and manages private gifts for UW.

Posted on Friday, August 18, 2006