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Laramie

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-2929

Email: cbaldwin@uwyo.edu

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Private Giving Continues to Advance UW

August 26, 2015
woman sitting at table with young boy who is reading
Tutor Michelle Brightwater works with student Topaz Mwebaza in UW's Literacy Research Center and Clinic, one of the beneficiaries of private giving through the UW Foundation during the past year. (UW Photo)

Private giving to the University of Wyoming topped $46 million in fiscal year 2015, accomplished with the assistance of nearly 23,000 donors.

“Year after year, the support shown to UW from private donors is generous beyond description,” says UW President Dick McGinity. “It gives UW the necessary tools to educate our students, to serve the state and to provide excellence in everything that we do. I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to the individuals, corporations and foundations who have given to the University of Wyoming.”

The university’s endowment as of March 2015 totals $427 million -- the largest it has ever been.  

“The UW Foundation couldn’t have achieved this historic amount without the philanthropists that have supported UW,” says Ben Blalock, UW Foundation president and CEO.

He says endowments provide a firm foundation of assets that are held in perpetuity, the interest of which creates a steady stream of funding for purposes chosen by the donors, such as student assistance, faculty support, library acquisitions, academic program support, and building and equipment purchases and maintenance. This reliable income allows the university to plan and budget effectively. But, most importantly, it helps students achieve their educational goals, sending them down the path to success.

“Private giving has become a foundation for excellence across the UW campus,” Blalock says. “UW is indebted to our philanthropic partners. UW’s advancement is hugely impacted each year by the generosity of the UW family.”

The state of Wyoming continues its support of UW through the state-matching program. The current state match funds total $245.6 million, with state match commitments at $208.1 million. Remaining state match funds, totaling $37.5 million, will be allocated to the engineering capital project, literacy programs, the petroleum engineering chair, the High Altitude Sports Performance Center and unconventional reservoirs research.

This program, unique to the state of Wyoming, began in March 2001 to provide additional support to the university by encouraging private donations. Under this program, endowment gifts of at least $50,000 and facilities gifts of at least $25,000 were matched dollar for dollar.

The steadfast support of the Wyoming governor and legislature, in addition to private donors, has paved the way for future accomplishments at UW, continuing UW’s greatest era in educational excellence and world-class facilities. An example of a world-class facility includes the High Bay Research Facility, which will be located on north 19th Street. It will provide the space, capacity and state-of-the-art equipment to launch and sustain research important to Wyoming’s future.

Educational excellence is brought into the state through outreach. Through the College of Education, literacy is making an impact on Wyoming. The UW Literacy Research Center and Clinic helps children succeed with the expertise and support of UW faculty and doctoral students.

Contact Us

Institutional Communications

Bureau of Mines Building, Room 137

Laramie

Laramie, WY 82071

Phone: (307) 766-2929

Email: cbaldwin@uwyo.edu

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