UW’s 11th Annual Giving Day Raises $4 Million in 24 Hours

For the University of Wyoming’s 11th annual Giving Day, a total of 9,271 donors seized the day, contributing $4,027,891 in support of UW colleges, programs, student organizations, and more. Prior to the day, donors lit the way with significant matching and challenge funds that encouraged this remarkable level of support.

“Donors are the real heroes of Giving Day,” says Doug Stark, an emeritus member of the UW Foundation Board. “Their support of the University of Wyoming offers UW students a competitive advantage they can’t find elsewhere.”

UW Giving Day (www.uwyo.edu/givingday) took place from noon Thursday, Oct. 23, to noon Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. The theme, “Seize the Day,” and subtheme, “Light the Way,” highlighted the power of every donor to make a difference. Since its inception, UW Giving Day has been a cornerstone event that nurtures a culture of giving at the university and across the state.

The success of Giving Day was driven by the enthusiastic participation of students, faculty, and staff from across the university and the passionate support of community advocates. The 266 campaigns represented academic colleges and units, athletic programs, and student clubs and organizations.

UW Giving Day was powered by more than $1.68 million in incentive funds through matches and challenges that helped maximize donor impact.

For matches, the McMurry Foundation and the UW Foundation Board provided a $150,000 match—a special Light the Way match that energized donors in the final hours of the 24-hour event. The UW Board of Trustees provided a $250,000 match dedicated to student success, and the UW Foundation Board offered $150,000 in a kickoff match. Then-President Ed Seidel provided a $30,000 UW faculty and staff match. The UW Foundation Board also offered a Seize the Day Student Match of $7,220 and a midnight match of $12,000.

Among challenges, the Western Thunder Marching Band claimed first place in the Big Giving Day Challenge, and the Nordic Ski Team came in second in this challenge but first for the Student Organizations Donor Challenge. In the Athletics Donor Challenge, the UW Rodeo Team earned first, followed by Track and Field and Cross Country. The Men’s Rugby Club won a decisive victory for the Club Sports Donor Challenge.

On the College Leaderboard, Arts and Sciences secured the top spot, surpassing second-place Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources and third-place Health Sciences. In the Battle of the Deans and Directors, the Art Museum finished first followed closely by the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and the Honors College.

“So many people seized the day this Giving Day,” says Kate Schlomer, director of annual giving at the UW Foundation. “The day was about supporting UW students, but it also was about coming together as a community, a decade-long tradition that has really deepened the philanthropic spirit at the university.”