University of Wisconsin Foundation
Also known as Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association
University of Wisconsin Foundation reported $680.9 million in revenue and $658.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.80 went to program services, $4.63 to management and general costs and $6.57 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 51.0% of the total. Government grants made up 7.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,998,774 (CIO). 114 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 29% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $658MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $681MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 88.8% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.6% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 51.0% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 7.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,998,774 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.30% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 114 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 107.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 36 of 37 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCapital additions and facilities - the uw foundation provided $197 million to the University of Wisconsin in support of new building construction, renovation, maintenance, and equipment needs. State-of-the-art facilities help the university attract high-caliber faculty and students. These facilities and grounds provide space, environments, and technologies that promote the highest levels of teaching, learning, and research
Discretionary support - the uw foundation provides critical funding to senior university officials granting them the needed flexibility to respond to both existing and unforeseen opportunities. This discretionary support helps further the mission of the university by fulfilling the greatest needs and top priorities of the university
Faculty support and research - with $95 million from the uw foundation, University of Wisconsin faculty and staff received critical financial support allowing for increased research opportunities and improved classroom experiences for students. Private gift support helps the university attract and retain world-class faculty, which ultimately attracts the best and brightest students, and improves the university's reputation as a leading university. At the end of fiscal year 2025, the number of endowed funds supporting faculty totaled 765 with an additional 339 funds specifically designated for…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIO Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $1,943,576 | $0 | $55,198 | $1,998,774 |
| DEPUTY CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $994,559 | $0 | $55,198 | $1,049,757 |
| SR. MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $946,665 | $0 | $55,198 | $1,001,863 |
| CEO (UNTIL 12/31/24) Director/trustee, officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $820,496 | $0 | $135,291 | $955,787 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $762,210 | $0 | $35,998 | $798,208 |
| PRESIDENT/CEO (AS OF 1/1/25) Director/trustee, officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $537,702 | $0 | $60,818 | $598,520 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFF OF INVESTMENTS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $514,216 | $0 | $55,198 | $569,414 |
| DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $407,968 | $0 | $25,425 | $433,393 |
114 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from University of Wisconsin Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.4M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b37 · 36 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5458
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,500
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ATLAS HOLDINGS Investment manager | $2,752,409 |
| L SQUARED CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Investment manager | $2,703,272 |
| ALATUS CAPITAL LTD Investment manager | $2,153,482 |
| LEGENDS SALES & MARKETING LLC Fundraising services | $2,152,540 |
| ENCAP INVESTMENTS LP Investment manager | $1,850,841 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 71 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
205 private foundations reported grants to University of Wisconsin Foundation totaling $64M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from University of Wisconsin Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for University of Wisconsin Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 University of Wisconsin Foundation spent in FY2025, $88.80 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Research Foundation of the City University of New YorkNew York, NY · revenue $668M · programs 93.5% · FY2025
- The New York Public Library Astor Lenox and Tilden FoundationsNew York, NY · revenue $693M · programs 87.5% · FY2025
- Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter SchoolHarrisburg, PA · revenue $665M · programs 95.4% · FY2025
- Dalhousie UniversityCanada, · revenue $695M · programs 91.4% · FY2025
- Everglades CollegeFt Lauderdale, FL · revenue $663M · programs 100.0% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of University of Wisconsin Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, University of Wisconsin Foundation reported that 88.8% of its $658.4 million in expenses went to program services, 4.6% to management and general and 6.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does University of Wisconsin Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation University of Wisconsin Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,998,774, for the role of CIO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does University of Wisconsin Foundation get its money?
Of $680.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 51.0% came from contributions and grants (including 7.4% from government grants) and 0.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is University of Wisconsin Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 39-0743975 as a 501(c)(3) organization (organization operated for a governmental college or university), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202601359349303645 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511339349302751 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411349349307346 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341359349304714 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241349349301039 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101199349302210 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 39-0743975: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.