UW Giving Day Reaches More Donors Than Ever Before

The University of Wyoming’s 2023 Giving Day was a huge success -- in just 24 hours, reaching almost double the donors of last year and raising $3.6 million that goes directly to students and the faculty and programs that support them.

“On behalf of the University of Wyoming and the UW Foundation, I would like to thank you for your overwhelming generosity on Giving Day,” says Mary Shafer-Malicki, chair of the UW Foundation board. “The outpouring of support from alumni, students, faculty and friends has truly made a difference. Together, we are shaping a brighter tomorrow for UW.”

UW Giving Day, spearheaded by the UW Foundation, took place Oct. 25-26, noon to noon, on social media and across campus. This year, a record 8,978 donors from all 50 states and 13 countries gave a total of $3,605,192 to support students, faculty and organizations across campus.

The theme was Make My Day, which encouraged UW supporters to make someone’s day by showing their philanthropic spirit. Supporters spread the word on social media with the hashtags #uwgivingday and #makemyday.

The number of donors was not the only record that was broken. There were more than 207 campaigns created by units and student organizations large and small, breaking last year’s record of 159 campaigns. In addition to the larger units, the event creates fundraising opportunities for small student-led organizations that otherwise wouldn’t participate in a campaign of this size. 

In just the first hour of Giving Day, more than $1 million was donated from just over 2,000 donors. All matching funds were used up within minutes of going live.

“Every area of campus came together to make this day a success for the university,” says Clancee Rea, director of Annual Giving and the Donor Experience Program. “It was incredible to watch. Thank you to everyone who believes in being a part of something bigger than themselves and supporting UW on Giving Day.”

More than $1 million was available in overall matching and challenge funds, as well as 48 unit-specific matches and challenges. Matching funds allow donors to double -- and sometimes triple -- the impact of their gifts. Matching typically goes toward gifts of up to $1,000, and gifts are matched until the matching fund runs out. Challenges are often gift amounts that are unlocked after a certain number of donors have donated.

The McMurry Foundation gave the kickoff match of $500,000 that went toward gifts of up to $5,000 in a 2:1 ratio, so a $5,000 gift would amount to a $15,000 impact. The UW Foundation Board gave over $250,000 in matching and challenge funds, and the UW Board of Trustees gave $250,001 to match scholarships and student success.

Matches included the UW Board of Trustees Scholarship Match; the UW Foundation Board 3 p.m. Match; President Ed Seidel’s UW Faculty/Staff Match; Graduates of the Last Decade Match; the UW Foundation Board Midnight Match; the UW Foundation Board Mystery Match; and the 48 unit-specific matches and challenges.

Challenges included the Overall Giving Day Donor Challenge; the Student Organizations Donor Challenge; the Club Sports Donor Challenge; the Fraternity and Sorority Life Donor Challenge; the Athletics Donor Challenge; and the Alumni Donor Challenge.

“On behalf of everyone here at the UW Foundation, let me take this opportunity to thank all of our generous contributors, our campus partners and our UW Foundation staff for making this year’s Giving Day such an overwhelming success,” says John Stark, president and CEO of the UW Foundation.

The Alumni Donor Challenge of $10,000 was unlocked at 2,023 donors but went on to achieve 2,693 donors.

The Overall Donor Challenge proved once again to be very competitive, with the top 10 campaigns with the most donors receiving awards. This challenge did not include academic colleges. The Western Thunder Marching Band-Hat Club won this challenge with 618 donors and was awarded the top prize of $6,000, followed by the UW rodeo team with 469 donors and the Nordic ski team with 381 donors, which were awarded $5,000 and $4,000, respectively.

The other campaigns that placed in the Overall Donor Challenge were the women’s soccer team with 367 donors; men’s rugby club team (271); club tennis (240); Wyoming Motorsports Club (234); Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity (228); swimming and diving team (211); and cheer team (204).

Student-led groups also were able to engage large amounts of donors. The Nordic ski team won the Student Organizations Donor Challenge with 381 donors and was awarded $2,000. The men’s rugby club team won the Club Sports Donor Challenge with 271 donors and was awarded $2,000. Sigma Phi Epsilon won the Fraternity and Sorority Life Donor Challenge with 228 donors and was awarded $2,000.

The winner of the Athletics Donor Challenge was the UW rodeo team, with 469 donors giving $92,124, followed by women’s soccer (367 donors, $41,652) and swimming and diving (211 donors, $42,489).

On the College Leaderboard by the number of donors, the College of Arts and Sciences won handily with 1,107.

In the Battle of the Deans between the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences vs. the College of Business, Engineering and Physical Sciences won with 679 to Business’s 442, although Business raised more money -- Business’s $263,480 to Engineering and Physical Sciences’ $257,126.

In the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources vs. Honors College Battle of the Deans, the Honors College technically won by a nose with 132 donors to the Haub School’s 128, but the deans called it a tie and, as agreed beforehand, they both donned clown costumes.

“Building a culture of philanthropy at UW is our ultimate goal, and I am not sure there is anything we do each year that does more to advance that cause than Giving Day,” Stark says. “It continues to exceed expectations year over year. We are incredibly grateful.”