Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I invest in the School of Business?
By giving to the School of Business, alumni and friends are investing in their degree and the future of business.  Giving back to your alma mater increases the participation rate of alumni supporting the School, which helps to build our reputation as a leading business school. Gifts given to the School of Business support research efforts, provide funds to recruit and retain excellent faculty, elevate the caliber of our academic programs, fund alumni events and provide resources to initiate alumni and corporate involvement to draw business expertise into the School.

Invest in the School of Business

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is funded by the government and tuition dollars.  Why do they need my money?
State funding currently provides only the means for a basic education and only a small portion of tuition dollars go to support the efforts of the School of Business.  With less than 40 percent of our funding coming from state and federal support and tuition fees, private funding supplements those dollars and supports many special programs and projects not possible through conventional funding sources. Examples of these are professorships, fellowships and scholarships, research efforts and building projects. Those academic opportunities and enhancements that make the School of Business a truly exceptional educational institution are only available through private support.

How do I make a gift to the School of Business at UW-Madison?
There are a number of quick and easy ways to make a contribution.  You may:

  • Complete a secure online form
  • Complete the form you received in a past UPDATE Magazine
  • Contact a UW Foundation Development Director at 608-263-4545

Where do I send my gift/pledge?
Checks should be made out to the University of Wisconsin Foundation and sent to the University of Wisconsin Foundation at US Bank Lockbox, P.O. Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807.

What are the different ways I can give to the School of Business?
The manner by which you choose to make a gift is a matter of personal preference and situation. The UW Foundation offers a variety of gift options you may wish to explore. Careful planning can maximize the positive effects of outright contributions such as cash, appreciated securities, life insurance policies, real estate and gifts of personal property, as well as deferred gifts such as bequests, testamentary trusts and life income trusts.

That being said, any gift usually falls into one of two categories: gifts to the annual fund and capital gifts. Annual fund gifts provide flexible resources that enable the School of Business to meet urgent academic needs. The Annual Fund is used to expand student scholarships and fellowships, provide faculty incentives for recruitment and retention, and create financial momentum for pioneering initiatives and programs for alumni. Many alumni contribute to the Annual Fund each year. It is critical that it be continued and expanded. Capital gifts are typically made to targeted projects, which can be tailored to a donor’s interests. Capital gifts often provide perpetual funding for initiatives such as professorships or faculty chairs, student scholarships, MBA Center endowments and much more. Capital gifts are usually made from a donor’s assets rather than income and may be 10-20 times the size of gifts to the Annual Fund.

How will my gift be used?
Gifts to the School of Business are used to support a variety of programs and initiatives, including scholarships, faculty chairs, research efforts, building projects, student organizations, MBA programs, marketing and recruitment efforts and alumni and corporate involvement.

I want to give to a specific department within the School of Business.  How do I make sure that happens?
Many people show their appreciation for a favorite professor or for the life-changing experiences they realized during their years at the UW by supporting a specific department or area of the University. The UW Foundation is committed to carrying out the wishes of our donors and our staff is always happy to work with you to make this happen. When making your gift, you may designate on the on-line or paper form that you would like it to be designated to a certain area within the School of Business. You may also contact one of the Development Directors for the School of Business at 608-263-4545 for further assistance with your gift.

How long after I pledge my gift do I have to fulfill it?
You can set the parameters of your pledge.  No matter what the specifications, the UW Foundation is ready to work with you to make the giving process as easy as possible.  Whether you want to give $25,000 over five years or establish a perma pledge where you invest $50 a year indefinitely, you can find the best method that works for you.  The UW Foundation will also send you reminders each year, in any month you prefer, to help keep you up-to-date on your pledge.

How does the matching gift program work?
If your company offers a matching gift program, your gift to the UW-Madison may be doubled or even tripled. Obtain a form from your human resources or personnel department, complete and return it to us and we will do the rest. Opportunities for matching gifts are sometimes available from a spouse's employer as well.

What are the tax benefits of making a gift to the University of Wisconsin-Madison?
Cash gifts are tax deductible, and generally, the actual cost of your gift will be reduced by the tax benefit. A gift of securities allows you to make a gift to the School of Business and receive a charitable deduction equal to the full fair market value of the securities. You pay no capital gains tax on your gift nor does the Foundation if the securities are sold. A member of the UW Foundation staff would be happy to meet with you, at no obligation, to answer your questions about charitable contributions. In addition to Foundation assistance, we recommend that you consult with an attorney or accountant for the legal and tax implications of any gift you make to charity.

What is the UW Foundation?
The UW Foundation is the official fund-raising and gift-receiving agency for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and other donor-designated units of the UW System. An independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, the Foundation has an elected board of directors that oversees its assets and activities. Foundation development officers work closely with UW administration and the various schools, colleges and other academic units on campus to determine fund-raising priorities. In turn, staff members work to match donor interests to academic needs. Each gift is then distributed according to the wishes of the donor.

Who can I contact to discuss making a gift to the UW-Madison School of Business?
The UW-Foundation representatives for the School of Business are:

Jim Kubek, Director of Development, 608.265.7942, jim.kubek@uwfoundations.wisc.edu

Scott Voss, Coordinator of Donor Relations, 608.265.9669, scott.voss@uwfoundation.wisc.edu

Karleen Kleemann, Development Assistant, 608.262.5250, karleen.kleemann@uwfoundation.wisc.edu