For the University of Wyoming’s 11th annual Giving Day, a total of 9,271 donors seized
the day, contributing $4,027,891 in support of UW colleges, programs, student organizations
and more. Prior to the day, donors lit the way with more than $1.68 million in matching
and challenge funds that encouraged this remarkable level of support.
“Donors are the real heroes of Giving Day,” says Doug Stark, chair of the UW Foundation
Board. “Their support of the University of Wyoming offers UW students a competitive
advantage they can’t find elsewhere. And the enthusiastic support of the UW community
makes all the difference. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished together today.”
UW Giving Day (www.uwyo.edu/givingday) took place from noon Thursday, Oct. 23, to noon Friday, Oct. 24. This year’s theme,
“Seize the Day,” and subtheme “Light the Way” highlight the power of every donor to
make a difference.
“So many people seized the day this Giving Day,” says Kate Schlomer, director of annual
giving at the UW Foundation. “Today was about supporting UW students, but it also
was about coming together as a community, a decade-long tradition that has really
deepened the philanthropic spirit at the university. Every single gift helps light
the way for the next generation of Cowboys and Cowgirls.”
Since its inception in 2015, UW Giving Day has been a cornerstone event that nurtures
a culture of giving at the university and across the state. It unites donors, alumni,
students, faculty, staff and friends of the university in the shared missions of education,
research and service -- and in creating a prosperous future for our state.
“The University of Wyoming is such an incredible institution,” says Jill Higham, senior
vice president for development at the UW Foundation. “Giving Day reminds us that we
can come together to make a better future -- for individual students and for our great
state.”
The success of this year’s Giving Day was driven by the enthusiastic participation
of students, faculty and staff from across the university and the passionate support
of community advocates. The 266 campaigns represented academic colleges and units,
athletic programs, and student clubs and organizations.
This year’s Giving Day was powered by more than $1.68 million in incentive funds through
matches and challenges that helped maximize donor impact.
The McMurry Foundation and the UW Foundation Board provided a $150,000 match, a special
Light the Way match that energized donors in the final hours of the 24-hour event.
The UW Board of Trustees provided a $250,000 match dedicated to student success, and
the UW Foundation Board offered $150,000 in a kickoff match. President Ed Seidel provided
a $30,000 UW faculty and staff match. The UW Foundation Board also offered a Seize
the Day Student Match of $7,220 and a midnight match of $12,000.
Competition among the challenges was fierce for the award total of $65,000. Western
Thunder Marching Band claimed first place in the Big Giving Day Challenge, with 719
donors who contributed $166,064. The Nordic Ski Team came in second, with 464 donors
and $47,550. In addition, the Nordic Ski Team totals placed it first for the Student
Organizations Donor Challenge.
In the Athletics Donor Challenge, the UW Rodeo Team earned first place, with 351 donors
giving $62,208, followed by Track and Field and Cross Country, with 229 donors giving
$30,585. The Club Sports Donor Challenge was won far and away by the Men’s Rugby Club,
with 384 donors and $115,510.
On the College Leaderboard, the College of Arts and Sciences secured the top spot,
with 1,606 donors and $472,027, far outstripping the College of Agriculture, Life
Sciences and Natural Resources (911 donors, $409,747) and the College of Health Sciences
(812 donors, $128,949).
In the Battle of the Deans and Directors, the Art Museum finished first, with 179
donors and $61,497, followed closely by the Haub School of Environment and Natural
Resources (161 donors, $66,733) and the Honors College (152 donors, $37,367).
UW Giving Day is more than just the total money raised, however. It also is about creating a culture of philanthropy, gratitude and giving back -- not only at UW, but across the state. It’s about bringing together all of those who love Wyoming and its university and uniting them behind the common purposes of education, research and service.
