Wyoming’s University Endowment Challenge Program represents a pioneering state initiative that doubles private gifts to the University of Wyoming. This legislative program has prompted the meteoric rise of UW’s endowment, which now stands at more than $900 million—outpacing peer institutions in the Mountain West and rivaling those of much larger universities.

The state matching program was established in 2001 by the state legislature, and UW has received more than $227 million in state matching funds supporting faculty, students, and academic and athletic facilities across campus. It was designed to leverage the generosity of donors and to encourage a new level of giving by creating incentives to invest in UW and its academic, athletic, and facility priorities. 

Through this program, endowment gifts of $50,000 or more and facility gifts of $25,000 or more are doubled by the State of Wyoming. Endowments are like a forever gift—a solid foundation of assets that keeps on giving. Each year, these funds generate a steady stream of income to support the causes donors care about most. These funds fuel student success, empower faculty, enrich academic programs, and keep our campus thriving—think scholarships, library resources, new facilities, and more. 

Each legislative session has exponentially increased the impact of the university’s endowment. For example, in 2024, the Wyoming Legislature allocated $10 million in matching funds, and the Board of Trustees designated half for student success and half for faculty excellence. That means that the impact of $10 million in donor gifts was doubled to $20 million. 

Through this $10 million matching fund, an amazing 47 new student success endowments were created in areas ranging from engineering and business to veterans and first-generation students. In addition, 13 new faculty excellence funds were created that support faculty professorships and deanships, which give high-performing faculty the resources they need for their teaching, research, and service—which also benefits students.

The historical precedent for legislative matching dates back to 1955, when the Wyoming Legislature matched William Robertson Coe’s $750,000 gift to create a total investment in UW of $1.5 million. This support created UW’s William Robertson Coe Library. The Wyoming Legislature’s University Endowment Challenge Program exemplifies how strategic state investment can multiply private philanthropy, creating economic stability and a lasting legacy for generations to come.