Ed Seidel
Published May 07, 2025
By Ed Seidel
As we look ahead to a bright future for the University of Wyoming, one of the most exciting developments is the incredible progress we’ve made in fundraising. Together with the UW Board of Trustees, the UW Foundation Board and the UW Alumni Association, we have never been more aligned in our shared commitment to support the continued excellence of this great institution.
I am proud to note the strong momentum of fundraising at UW. While many universities are seeing a decline in donor engagement, UW is bucking the trend. During fiscal year 2024, we raised an impressive $61.6 million, marking a significant upward trend in our efforts. In the past year alone, our donor count grew from 23,554 to 27,646. This growth is a testament to the dedication of our donors, partners and volunteers, as well as the strategic investments we’ve made in the areas that matter most: students, faculty and programs. It’s a clear sign that the UW community is more committed than ever to the success of our students and faculty.
Our endowment performance also is on the rise. As of FY24, UW’s endowment reached $833.5 million, which is notably higher than many of our peer and aspirational institutions, including those with three times our enrollment. This endowment supports everything from scholarships to faculty chairs, and it stands as a reflection of both donor intent and our university’s priorities. With a growing endowment, we are able to increase annual expenditures, reaching $28 million in FY24 to directly support the work that impacts our campus community every day.
A key milestone in our fundraising journey was the completion of the state’s $10 million Endowment Challenge Program. We successfully matched $5 million for student success and $5 million for faculty excellence, resulting in a total impact of $20 million. This builds on previous investments, including the $15 million from our Board of Trustees and a $5 million matching investment from the UW Foundation Board, bringing the total impact to $30 million. These investments continue to reaffirm that students and faculty remain the cornerstone of our university and our fundraising priorities.
Looking ahead, we are laying the groundwork for the possibility of a comprehensive fundraising campaign that will be a key pillar of UW’s strategic plan, Forward for Wyoming. To support this effort, we’ve partnered with BWF, a leading global fundraising consultant, to help guide our campaign planning.
As we move forward, I am more confident than ever in our ability to elevate UW’s impact and strengthen the role we play in the lives of our students and faculty. With our continued alignment, strategic investments and clear priorities, we are taking fundraising at UW to the next level.
Thank you for your continued support and for being such an important part of our community. Together, we are shaping the future of Wyoming — and beyond.
Ed Seidel is the 28th president of the University of Wyoming.