Annual Giving

Annual Giving

Annual Giving is the only fundraising program of the university that reaches all alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends each year to offer giving opportunities for direct support of UW’s colleges, departments, and programs. This creates a vital and dependable source of private support to help the University of Wyoming fulfill its mission to become one of the nation’s finest public land-grant research universities. Donors contributed an amazing $9.1 million this year through Annual Giving.

Annual Giving’s impact on the University of Wyoming continues to increase. The overall amount of support to the academic colleges across campus increased 11% in 2020–21, with the number of donors also increasing 18%. That includes support UW through Annual Giving such as fundraising appeals, UW Giving Day, and You Fund—UW’s crowdfunding tool.


Sixth Annual Giving Day Doubled Donor Impact

UW’s sixth annual UW Giving Day broke new records, with more than double the number of donors and double the number of dollars received. This year’s UW Giving Day raised $840,602 in gifts and pledges from 2,409 donors in 48 states and six countries. That’s up from last year’s total of $410,000 in annual gifts—plus $1.2 million in major gifts—from 1,110 donors. The theme this year was “24 Means More,” highlighting the impact a single 24-hour period can have on the university. Due in part to UW’s COVID-19 phase plan, UW Giving Day was moved from Giving Tuesday to mid-November and ran from noon to noon, rather than from midnight to midnight. More than $250,000 in matching and challenge funds were available for donors to double the impact of their gifts and/or help unlock a challenge gift for a campaign—more than ever before. This included $50,000 from the UW Foundation Board of Directors.


Steamboat Society Recognizes UW’S Most Loyal Supporters

As the University of Wyoming’s premier annual giving society, the Steamboat Society is reserved exclusively for those loyal supporters whose generosity totals $1,000 or more each year. In 2020–21, there was an increase of 164 donors who became members of the Steamboat Society making a significant and meaningful impact on the future of UW. That brings total membership to 2,957. 


Gaurdia Banister

UW alum Gaurdia Banister is executive director of the Institute for Patient Care and the director of the Yvonne L. Munn Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. She earned her bachelor’s in nursing at UW. “I have such gratitude for my undergraduate work at the University of Wyoming,” Gaurdia says, “because it made such a difference in my life.” Her annual gifts have supported the nursing school and experiential learning opportunities, and she has established the Gaurdie Sr. and Barbara Shannon Banister Scholarship for Doctor of Nurse Practice Students for those from underrepresented groups in the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing.

Click here to watch a video.


Joe Evers

Joe Evers of Sheridan graduated from UW with a bachelor’s in finance and a J.D. and master’s in environment and natural resources, which is offered jointly by the College of Law and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. He currently works for Occidental and sits on the advisory boards for the Haub School and UW Alumni Association. Every year, Joe and his wife Elise support efforts across campus, including the Salt Creek Energy Excellence Scholarship, the Cowboy Joe Club, the Alumni Association, the Law School, and the Haub School.

Click here to watch a video.


Nicole Hauser

Nicole Hauser is executive director at the Cathedral Home for Children, a youth residential treatment center for 12- to 18-year-olds from Wyoming and surrounding states. Nicole earned her bachelor’s and master’s in social work at UW. Growing up in Colorado, she always knew she wanted to pursue this line of work because her mom was a social worker. “I had the opportunity to watch her help a variety of people throughout her career,” Nicole says. Through Nicole’s college practicum, she fell in love with working with youth. Her annual gifts have supported the Cowboy Joe Club and the Alumni Association.

Click here to watch a video.


Chase Mcnamee

“My roots are in Wyoming,” says Chase McNamee. Growing up in Shoshoni on a farm and ranch, Chase was a three-sport athlete in high school and then played two years of college football at the NAIA and NCAA Division II levels before deciding to come to UW to earn his bachelor’s in history and master’s in counseling. “I was really blown away by how many opportunities there were to get involved and how phenomenal the faculty and staff and student body was,” he says. After exploring different majors, Chase said, “I realized I loved this institution of higher education.” He wanted to do more in education, and he is now earning his Ed.D. in higher and postsecondary education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He also serves as a senior project manager at the University of Denver. His annual gift support goes to the colleges of Education and Arts and Sciences, the American Heritage Center, the Black Studies Center, the Black 14 Social Justice Summer Institute, and the Heritage Alumni Excellence Circle.   

Click here to watch a video.


Contact 

tennant_jack_2019.jpg

Jack Tennant

Director of Annual Giving
Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center
307-766-3904 | jtennant@uwyo.edu

Find us on Instagram (Link opens a new window)Find us on Facebook (Link opens a new window)Find us on Twitter (Link opens a new window)Find us on LinkedIn (Link opens a new window)Find us on YouTube (Link opens a new window)