University of Wisconsin Foundation
88% goes to programs $9 to raise $100 Strong reserves
University of Wisconsin Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, registered in 1943, with $776,771,718 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 88% of spending to programs.
1848 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726 EIN 39-0743975 Since 1943
Revenue (FY2023)
$776.8M
▲ 58.4% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$564.0M
Net assets
$5.4B
Employees
442
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating88% to programs · $9 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For University of Wisconsin Foundation: 88% to programs · $9 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating116 mo reserves · +27% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For University of Wisconsin Foundation: 116 mo reserves · +27% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For University of Wisconsin Foundation: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For University of Wisconsin Foundation: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Show this grade on your website
A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Mission
University of wisconsin foundation aids university of wisconsin-madison by soliciting gifts & bequests, administers & invests securities & properties, & distributes payments for the benefit of university of wisconsin - madison.
What they do
Capital additions and facilities - the uw foundation provided $105 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.
Faculty support and research - with over $74 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 2024, the number of endowed funds supporting faculty totaled 810 with an additional 410 funds specifically designated for research and research equipment.
Academic, patient, and student program support - the uw foundation provided $63 million to the university of wisconsin to support its academic, patient, and student support programs. these funds enable students to develop skills and knowledge for growth and success by offering high-quality and responsive programs by employing best practices in teaching, learning, and patient care, influencing people's lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
Contact & location
- Address
- 1848 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726
- City
- Madison
- State
- Wisconsin
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Support Foundations & Fundraising
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $377.1M (FY2013) to $776.8M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $371.3MNet assets $5.4B
Operating margin
27.4%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$5.8B
Total liabilities
$371.3M
Net assets
$5.4B
Salaries & benefits
$40.6M
7% of expenses
Board members
40
39 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $776,771,718▲58.4% | $564,023,383▲29.5% | $5,438,342,244▲11.4% | $5,809,599,535▲10.5% | 990 |
| 2022 | $490,458,457▼62.4% | $435,563,925▲14.7% | $4,883,759,509▲7.3% | $5,258,973,342▲5.9% | 990 |
| 2021 | $1,306,102,571▲76.7% | $379,636,732▼3.1% | $4,549,974,249▼8.4% | $4,965,210,272▼12.8% | 990 |
| 2020 | $739,045,115▲39.7% | $391,682,705▲24.7% | $4,965,638,698▲23.4% | $5,692,461,410▲28.4% | 990 |
| 2019 | $528,921,791▼6.2% | $314,138,927▼7.4% | $4,022,647,619▲2.1% | $4,431,877,103▲1.5% | 990 |
| 2018 | $563,594,697▲18.4% | $339,317,810▼0.9% | $3,941,114,111▲4.7% | $4,366,316,830▲4.6% | 990 |
| 2017 | $476,077,786▼2.9% | $342,390,880▲0.9% | $3,765,167,558▲6.7% | $4,174,956,171▲6.1% | 990 |
| 2016 | $490,536,883▼26.6% | $339,384,291▲22.0% | $3,527,617,418▲11.1% | $3,935,324,656▲12.7% | 990 |
| 2015 | $667,876,323▲22.6% | $278,291,555▼5.5% | $3,176,461,190▲9.2% | $3,492,673,853▲6.4% | 990 |
| 2014 | $544,926,542▲44.5% | $294,518,413▲6.8% | $2,909,162,096▲7.3% | $3,283,644,772▲5.9% | 990 |
| 2013 | $377,146,989 | $275,885,677▲9.0% | $2,712,045,957▲13.5% | $3,100,909,316▲12.5% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $252,992,105▲3.0% | $2,388,896,551▲8.3% | $2,756,835,399▲8.8% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $245,516,233▲3.5% | $2,205,126,130▼4.9% | $2,532,717,884▼4.2% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $237,302,114 | $2,319,411,909 | $2,642,629,878 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Michael L Stohler — $1,570,221 (0.28% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael L Stohler | Cio | 55 | $1,570,221 |
| Christopher A Moore | Deputy Chief Investment Officer | 50 | $846,887 |
| Richard J Shepley | Sr. Managing Director of Investments | 50 | $831,819 |
| Michael M Knetter | Chief Executive Officer/ex Officio | 60 | $800,626 |
| Katherine L Wyble | Managing Director of Investments | 50 | $672,714 |
| Alisa A Robertson | President/chief Advancement Officer | 55 | $522,035 |
| Sean Arp | Chief Operating Off of Investments | 50 | $424,006 |
| Carl J Laurino | Cfo | 50 | $356,988 |
| James G Elkins | Director of Investments | 50 | $349,608 |
| Nicole R Mcdonald | Controller/treasurer | 50 | $219,320 |
| John C Norton | Former Assistant Treasurer | 0 | $210,885 |
| Scott T Mckinney | Former Chief Legal Officer | 0 | $199,375 |
| Brenda J Phebus | Chief Human Resources Officer | 55 | $195,690 |
| Abigail A Cahak | Chief Legal Officer | 50 | $189,906 |
| Sarah L Schutt | Former Chief Alumni Officer & Exec. | 0 | $183,294 |
| Falicia N Hines | Secretary | 50 | $155,975 |
| Alice D Mortenson | Director | 2 | — |
| Christine A Rotsch | Director | 2 | — |
| Colleen A Goggins | Director | 2 | — |
| Cynthia A Ihlenfeld | Director | 2 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Janus Henderson Investors | Investment Manager | $2,111,316 |
| Legends Sales & Marketing LLC | Fundraising Services | $1,606,285 |
| Cantillon Capital Management LLP | Investment Manager | $1,568,024 |
| Huron Consulting Services LLC | It Consulting | $1,516,363 |
| Beacon Hill Staffing Group LLC | It Consulting | $1,271,478 |
Grants received · $585.5M total
587 grants to University of Wisconsin Foundation totaling $585.5M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation Inc | Research support | 2024 | $12,148,726 |
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation | General nonprofit support | 2024 | $1,630,000 |
| American Cancer Society Inc | Extramural research | 2024 | $1,078,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Philanthropy | 2024 | $664,052 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $609,274 |
| Community Foundation For the Fox Valley Region Inc | Education, philanthropy, voluntarism, animal-related | 2024 | $579,723 |
| Ascendium Education Solutions Inc | Ascendium education group public policy education innovation and expansion fund good neighbor giving 2024 triple your impact match 2024 2024 | 2024 | $547,695 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Education | 2024 | $431,600 |
| Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | James d. and dorothy shaw scholarship | 2024 | $427,120 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $386,541 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $246,150 |
| Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc | Research | 2024 | $200,000 |
| Greater Horizons | Education | 2024 | $182,916 |
| Community Foundation of New Jersey | Universities, graduate schools or law schools | 2024 | $142,000 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $138,729 |
Grants made · $456.3M in FY2023
5 grants totaling $456.3M in FY2023. All grants made by University of Wisconsin Foundation →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin Madison | See sch i, part iv | $153,614,785 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | See sch i, part iv | $104,996,375 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | See sch i, part iv | $74,574,859 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | See sch i, part iv | $63,003,421 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | See sch i, part iv | $60,063,817 |
Similar organizations in Education
Education
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
$750.7M
Aannual revenue
Education
Ascendium Education Solutions Inc
Madison, WI
$267.0M
Aannual revenue
Education
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI
$211.4M
A+annual revenue
Education
Herzing University Ltd
Milwaukee, WI
$200.5M
Aannual revenue
Education
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Madison, WI
$189.3M
B+annual revenue
Education
Lawrence University of Wisconsin
Appleton, WI
$154.4M
Aannual revenue
Education
Carroll University Inc
Waukesha, WI
$147.1M
Aannual revenue
Education
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI
$139.7M
Aannual revenue
Education
St Norbert College Inc
De Pere, WI
$111.6M
Aannual revenue
Ascendium Education Group Inc
Madison, WI
$94.9M
Aannual revenue
Compare University of Wisconsin Foundation
Frequently asked questions
- Is University of Wisconsin Foundation a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. University of Wisconsin Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 39-0743975, based in Madison, Wisconsin. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is University of Wisconsin Foundation's EIN?
- University of Wisconsin Foundation's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 39-0743975.
- How much revenue does University of Wisconsin Foundation report?
- University of Wisconsin Foundation reported $776,771,718 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of University of Wisconsin Foundation's spending goes to programs?
- University of Wisconsin Foundation spends about 88% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does University of Wisconsin Foundation have?
- CharityIndex grades University of Wisconsin Foundation A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does University of Wisconsin Foundation's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on University of Wisconsin Foundation's latest Form 990 is $1,570,221, paid to Michael L Stohler (Cio).
More nonprofits in Madison
Explore more
Data for University of Wisconsin Foundation (EIN 39-0743975) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.