UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced Thursday the university would extend its “All Ways Forward” campaign until the end of next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Launched in October 2015, All Ways Forward is a multi year campaign sponsored by the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. It allows alumni and friends to donate directly to UW to help “inspire research innovations and solutions that will positively impact [student and faculty] lives.”
The campaign was originally set to finish at the end of 2020. However, the extension through Dec. 31, 2020 opens the door for the fundraising effort to continue supporting key initiatives at the university as UW faces a projected $320 million in lost revenue resulting from the pandemic.
This includes financing to address health and social challenges induced from the pandemic and assisting in UW school-specific projects like that of the School of Computing, Data & Information Sciences, according to a press release.
“There has never been a more important time to support UW-Madison,” Chancellor Blank said. “By extending the campaign, we are able to engage our generous alumni and friends of the university to help meet the financial challenges we face now and into the future.”
Continuing the All Ways Forward campaign through the pandemic provides the chance to support the university in critical areas, simultaneously addressing emerging and urgent needs, the press release said.
“The world changed dramatically in 2020,” said Mike Knetter, Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association president and CEO. “The pandemic continues to have a tremendous impact on UW-Madison’s financial footing, and on its faculty, staff, and students. Our mission to secure private support for the university is more important than ever.”
The campaign has raised $3.6 billion from 239,211 total donors. The UW School of Medicine and Public Health received the most donations, generating $993 million from 73,000 donors, according to the campaign’s website.
Money from the All Ways Forward campaign has been used by the university multiple ways, including funding 4,487 new scholarships for students and endowing 240 new chairs and professorships. Projects funded by the campaigns fundraising efforts include the new Nicholas Recreation, Alumni Park and the UW Meat Science and Muscle Biology Laboratory among others.
