The University of Wyoming and the UW Foundation are proud to announce the most successful fundraising year in UW’s history, with $69.5 million raised during the fiscal year that ended June 30.
This achievement not only surpasses the $61.6 million raised in the 2024 fiscal year, but it also marks the first time UW has raised more than $60 million in three consecutive years -- a testament to the generosity of its supporters.
In a year defined by momentum and loyalty-driven philanthropy, the UW Foundation received gifts from 30,254 donors, a substantial increase from the 27,708 individuals and organizations who gave in the 2024 fiscal year, bucking the national trend in declining support for higher education.
The scope and scale of these contributions reflect the growing support for the university’s strategic priorities, particularly in areas such as student success, faculty excellence and innovative research. These fundraising pillars have been actively championed by the continued commitment of the UW Board of Trustees and the UW Foundation Board of Directors, whose alignment and shared vision have played a vital role in driving this philanthropic success.
“This is a truly historic moment for the University of Wyoming,” says UW President Ed Seidel. “The outpouring of support this year reflects the strong belief in the direction we’re heading focusing on student achievement, academic excellence and research that matters. These gifts directly impact lives and communities across Wyoming and far beyond.”
Private giving came from a diverse range of sources last year, including individuals, corporations and foundations, annual giving and Giving Day, planned giving and private grants for research. Additionally, the state of Wyoming demonstrated its support for UW through a $10 million state matching program, which doubled the impact of $10 million in private contributions. This matching initiative played a pivotal role in strengthening endowments focused on faculty excellence and student success. Additional matching funds from the state also were available to support key programs in agriculture and artificial intelligence.
Doug Stark, chair of the UW Foundation Board of Directors, emphasizes the collaborative nature of this year’s achievement.
“The record-breaking support we’ve seen is the result of countless partnerships among the foundation, university leadership, deans and faculty, and -- most importantly -- our passionate donors,” he says. “Their belief in the university’s purpose is what made this possible.”
Several factors contributed to this landmark year. Chief among them was a clear and compelling focus on fundraising priorities around student and faculty support combined with a stable and experienced development team that has remained focused and unified in its approach. The 10th anniversary of UW Giving Day galvanized donors with a renewed energy, while increased attention to asset-based giving and planned gifts helped secure major commitments that will shape UW’s future for generations to come.
The university received several noteworthy gifts in the past fiscal year. An anonymous $10 million planned gift stands out as one of the largest in UW’s history. Farm Credit Services of America funded a new deanship in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources. Jay and Karen Kemmerer named the Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute with a transformative gift. The E.G. Meyer family endowed the chemical and biomedical engineering department head position, while the Stewart family established a professorship in public service in the School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies.
A gift from the estate of the late William “Bill” Kruggel will support graduates from the Wind River Indian Reservation, expanding educational access and opportunity. UW alumnus Dimitrios Smyrnios made a major contribution to create the Smyrnios Family Sales Professorship, advancing business education. Meanwhile, Paul and Karleen Turner created the Paul and Karleen Turner Faculty Fund in Economics in the College of Business. A generous gift from the estate of Harry and Mary Ann Lawroski will fuel inspiration and education for Wyoming students through the Teton STEM Academy. Another anonymous gift created the Phil Roberts Faculty Fellowship in Wyoming History and the West.
John Stark, president and CEO of the UW Foundation, credits the remarkable year to a strong culture of collaboration.
“We’ve built a model of fundraising that’s deeply aligned with academic leadership,” he says. “By identifying and clearly communicating UW’s top priorities and by working in true partnership with faculty and deans, we’ve connected donors with opportunities that are meaningful and transformative.”
This historic year positions UW for even greater success as the university considers a major comprehensive campaign, the first in 20 years.
“Every gift, no matter the size, contributes to something greater,” Seidel says. “This year, we saw what’s possible when the UW community comes together around shared priorities and bold aspirations.”
To learn more about how private giving is elevating Wyoming’s university, visit www.giveuwyo.org.
