What Is Stewardship?

At the University of Wyoming, stewardship is more than a practice — it is a promise. It represents a commitment to honor and uphold the generosity of donors who invest in the future of our university and its students. Stewardship is a partnership, a connection and an enduring relationship that fuels our shared mission to empower students, advance research and create opportunities that transform lives.

At its core, stewardship is about gratitude. It’s recognizing and honoring the generosity of those who believe in the mission of an institution, ensuring their gifts are not only managed responsibly but also deeply appreciated. At the UW Foundation, stewardship has evolved from a series of donor relations touchpoints into a dedicated effort shared throughout the university to create meaningful and lasting relationships with donors. Helping spearhead this collaborative effort is UW Foundation Donor Relations Director Kristin Morrison.

“Stewardship is about recognizing that giving itself is an act of trust and generosity that deserves to be acknowledged in a meaningful way,” Morrison says. “The best embodiment of stewardship is ensuring that donors’ generous gifts are deployed responsibly and effectively and then conveying to the donor the amazing impact that their generous gifts made.”

Creating a culture of gratitude requires more than routine acknowledgments — it demands intentionality. From coordinating heartfelt thank-you letters from students to ensuring that donors hear directly from those impacted by their generosity, stewardship at UW is about making appreciation tangible. In 2024, the UW Foundation hosted the first-ever UW Stewardship Summit, where deans, directors and department heads from across campus gathered at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center to talk about stewardship and UW’s vision to embrace a culture of gratitude and appreciation at every level.

The UW Foundation also acknowledges stewardship through the prestigious UW Foundation Stewardship Award, given annually. In 2024, the award went to two faculty members: Mark Guiberson, head of the Division of Communication Disorders, and Joe Carver, director of the Western Thunder Marching Band. The award recognizes the leadership of UW faculty members who excel in the relationship-building and stewardship of alumni and donors through effective use of private gifts, engaging former students in the activities of the university and a commitment to strong external relationships for the betterment of UW.

“Connecting with our donors, understanding their UW journey and aligning with their vision has been a true joy for me,” Guiberson says. “I thank our donors for the role they’ve played in shaping the division’s evolution and success.”

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award,” Carver says. “Engaging with supporters of the Western Thunder Marching Band is one of the great joys of my role here at UW. I am deeply grateful for the students in the band who have worked hard to better our program.”

Previous award winners have included Cindy Price Schultz, head of the Department of Communication and Journalism; John Kaszuba, the John and Jane Wold Centennial Chair in Energy; Chip Kobulnicky, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy; and Jean Garrison, professor and co-director of the Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program.

In 2025, the UW Foundation will continue its tradition of recognizing two faculty members for their outstanding stewardship efforts. For the first time, the foundation also will honor a staff member, emphasizing that stewardship is a shared responsibility and plays a crucial role in fostering relationships and securing private support for UW.

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