The Wisconsin Athletic Development Office partners with donors to provide the essential financial resources for over 700 student-athletes to pursue a world-class education and a holistic collegiate experience. This collective fundraising effort is vital, contributing significantly to the Athletic Department's annual operating budget.
As a self-funded division of UW-Madison, the Athletic Department receives no funding from the Wisconsin State Legislature, the university’s central campus, or the Universities of Wisconsin. Because of this independent structure, sustained donor support is critical for the Badgers to remain competitive at the highest levels of the Big Ten and on the national stage.
The impact of this support extends far beyond the playing field. Wisconsin Athletics serves as a major economic engine, generating an estimated $757 million in annual economic impact for the state. Our office is proud to serve a dedicated community of tens of thousands of donor households, over 500,000 UW alumni, and millions of Badger fans who follow our teams from coast to coast.
Wisconsin Athletics accepts contributions at any time. However, to maximize your donor benefits throughout the calendar year, we recommend making your contributions prior to March 13. Additional donor deadlines throughout the year can be found here.
Gifts can be made online, over the phone, or by mail. For a comprehensive list of how you can make a contribution, please visit the “how to give” page on the UW Foundation website here.
You can make a donation to your favorite team(s) with a donation to their sport specific fund. Wisconsin Athletics has 23 varsity sports. Gifts to a sport specific fund support the annual operating budget for that sport.
The athletic development team is a collective fundraising effort of the Wisconsin Alumni Association and Foundation and Wisconsin Athletic Development Office. A link to our staff directory can be found here.