University of Wisconsin Foundation
To promote the welfare of and advance the objectives of the university of Wisconsin-madison by encouraging the interest, engagement, and financial support of alumni, donors, and friends in the life of the university and with each other.
University of Wisconsin Foundation at a glance
In short: University of Wisconsin Foundation gave $548.8M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $109.8M), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $548,751,779
- +20.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $109,750,356
- +20.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $94,853,881
- Total assets
- $6,317,679,254
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who University of Wisconsin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Wisconsin Madison ($548.8M across 5 grants).
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 25 grants of 25 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How University of Wisconsin Foundation gives
- Giving grew 102% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $243.9M (2020) to $548.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $548.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, WI | See Sch I, Part IV | $196,895,770 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, WI | See Sch I, Part IV | $125,029,315 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, WI | See Sch I, Part IV | $94,853,881 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, WI | See Sch I, Part IV | $73,120,316 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, WI | See Sch I, Part IV | $58,852,497 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,317,679,254 | $680,868,045 | $658,424,352 | $548,751,779 | 5 | $331,627,782 |
| 2024 | $5,809,599,535 | $776,771,718 | $564,023,383 | $456,253,257 | 5 | $300,118,550 |
| 2023 | $5,258,973,342 | $490,458,457 | $435,563,925 | $339,979,657 | 5 | $137,020,737 |
| 2022 | $4,965,210,272 | $1,306,102,571 | $379,636,732 | $272,179,110 | 5 | $926,194,952 |
| 2021 | $5,692,461,410 | $739,045,115 | $391,682,705 | $305,311,692 | 5 | $354,604,159 |
| 2020 | $4,431,877,103 | $528,921,791 | $314,138,927 | $243,943,131 | 5 | $222,039,352 |
| 2019 | $4,366,316,830 | $563,594,697 | $339,317,810 | $275,391,164 | 5 | $219,172,934 |
About University of Wisconsin Foundation
Based on IRS filings
University of Wisconsin Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Madison, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.3B in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $548.8M. Net investment income was $331.6M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
University of Wisconsin Foundation is led by Alisa A. Robertson, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 17 of 56 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alisa A. Robertson
President & CEO
Chief Advancement Officer → President & Chief Advancement Officer, 2022
President & Chief Advancement Officer → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$293K (2019) → $538K (2025)
Michael M. Knetter
CEO
President, CEO & Executive Officio → Chief Executive Officer & Executive Officio, 2022
Chief Executive Officer & Executive Officio → CEO, 2025
On filings since 2019
60 hrs/week
$671K (2019) → $820K (2025)
Paul S. Shain
Chair
Director - Term Exp → Vice Chair - Term Exp, 2021
Vice Chair - Term Exp → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard J. Shepley
Senior Managing Director of Investments
Senior Managing Director of Investments → Senior Managing Director of Investments - Pub Mrkts, 2021
Senior Managing Director of Investments - Pub Mrkts → Senior Managing Director of Investments, 2024
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$535K (2019) → $947K (2025)
Katherine L. Wyble
Managing Director of Investments
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$467K (2023) → $762K (2025)
James G. Elkins
Director of Investments
Assistant Director of Investments → Director of Investments, 2022
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$214K (2021) → $408K (2025)
Alice D. Mortenson
Director
Director - → Director - Term Exp, 2022
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Colleen A. Goggins
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth M. Quadracci Harned
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elzie L. Higginbottom
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey D. Wiesner
Director
Chair - Term Exp → Director - Term Exp, 2021
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey J. Diermeier
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laureen E. Seeger
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda L. Ahlers
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael S. Shannon
Director
Vice Chair - Term Exp → Chair - Term Exp, 2021
Chair - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick A. Thiele
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter S. Kies
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rajiv Batra
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen R. Petersen
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan J. Cellmer
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan S. Engeleiter
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan S. Patterson
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William P. Hsu
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia A. Ihlenfeld
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James T. Thompson
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lorna E. Nagler
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle A. Behnke
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonnet C. Edmonds
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne N. Dewolf
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas D. Stevens
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Todd C. Pulvino
Director
Director - Term Exp → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine A. Rotsch
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David O. Nicholas
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jun W. Lee
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael B. Ferdman
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roger M. Mansukhani
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra G. Sponem
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valarie King-Bailey
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brenda J. Phebus
Chief Human Resources Officer
Chief Hr Officer - → Chief Hr Officer, 2020
Chief Hr Officer → Chief Human Resources Officer, 2021
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$32K (2019) → $202K (2025)
John C. Norton
Former Assistant Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer → Former Assistant Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
$127K (2019) → $219K (2025)
Sarah L. Schutt
Former Chief Alumni Officer & Executive
Chief Alumni Officer, Executive Director & Waa → Chief Alumni Officer & Executive, 2022
Chief Alumni Officer & Executive → Former Chief Alumni Officer & Executive, 2024
On filings since 2019
$149K (2019) → $189K (2025)
Scott T. McKinney
Former Chief Legal Officer
Chief Legal Officer - → Vice President of Development, 2022
Vice President of Development → Former Chief Legal Officer, 2023
On filings since 2019
$195K (2019) → $199K (2025)
Abigail A. Cahak
Chief Legal Officer
Assistant Secretary → Chief Legal Officer, 2022
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $213K (2025)
Falicia N. Hines
Secretary
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$85K (2020) → $166K (2025)
Carl J. Laurino
CFO
Interim Cfoo → Interim CFO, 2023
Interim CFO → CFO, 2024
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$267K (2023) → $371K (2025)
Christopher A. Moore
Deputy Chief Investment Officer
Snr Managing Director of Invst → Deputy Chief Investment Officer, 2023
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$253K (2022) → $995K (2025)
Michael L. Stohler
CIO
On filings since 2022
55 hrs/week
$239K (2022) → $1.9M (2025)
Nicole R. McDonald
Controller & Treasurer
Controller → Controller & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$111K (2023) → $216K (2025)
Sean Arp
Chief Operating Officer of Investments
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$424K (2024) → $514K (2025)
Marianne Siess
Chief Information Officer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$193K (2025)
Frances S. Taylor
Executive Officio - Term Is Continuous
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jere D. Fluno
Executive Officio - Term Is Continuous
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John J. Oros
Executive Officio - Term Is Continuous
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louis A. Holland
Vice Chair
Director - Term Exp → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul J. Collins
Executive Officio - Term Is Continuous
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ted D. Kellner
Executive Officio - Term Is Continuous
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (40)
- Former: Anne M. Lucke (2019–2023) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Curtis J. Fuszard (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Frederick A. Robertson (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Geoffrey M. McCloskey (2019–2023) — Former CFO
- Former: Jane R. Mandula (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: John P. Holton (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: John S. Nelson (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Jon D. Hammes (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Karen A. Monfre (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Linda L. Procci (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Peter A. Leidel (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Thomas P. Madsen (2019–2023) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Thomas P. Olson (2019–2023) — Former CIO - Private Markets
- Former: Carrie B. Park (2021–2023) — Former Treasurer
- Former: Brad W. Jolin (2019–2022) — Vice President & Managing Group Leader
- Former: Cory L. Nettles (2019–2022) — Director -
- Former: James P. Kennedy (2019–2022) — Chief Marketing & Committee Officer
- Former: Jerome A. Chazen (2019–2022) — Director -
- Former: Sally J. Erdmann (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Joshua M. Ross (2020–2022) — Director of Invt - Private Market
- Former: Julie M. Van Cleave (2019–2021) — Chief Investment Officer -
- Former: Michael R. Splinter (2019–2021) — Director -
- Former: Nancy Francisco-Welke (2019–2021) — Managing Vice President of Development & Medical Principal Gifts
- Former: Catherine M. Ahrens (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: David F. Florin (2019–2020) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Doris F. Weisberg (2019–2020) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Jill S. Hatton (2019–2020) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Jodi Kristine Patek (2019–2020) — Vice President of Stewards
- Former: John D. Baumann (2019–2020) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Melinda J. Mount (2019–2020) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Paul A. Leff (2019–2020) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Ricky C. Sandler (2019–2020) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Stephanie L. Swartz (2019–2020) — Director - Term Exp
- Former: Wade Fetzer III (2019–2020) — Executive Officio - Term Is Continuous
- Former: Abi Cahak (2019) — Assistant Secretary -
- Former: Amber Hodgson (2019) — Assistant Secretary -
- Former: Christopher Kozina (2019) — Director -
- Former: Collette M. Clemens (2019) — Chief Hr Officer -
- Former: Kari P. Myrland (2019) — Chief Infor. Officer
- Former: Thomas J. Falk (2019) — Executive Officio - Term Exp
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $1.9M, to Michael L Stohler (CIO). 17 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about University of Wisconsin Foundation
How much does University of Wisconsin Foundation give each year?
University of Wisconsin Foundation gave $548.8M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $456.3M across 5 grants.
What is University of Wisconsin Foundation's typical grant size?
University of Wisconsin Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $94,853,881, and its average grant was $109,750,356, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does University of Wisconsin Foundation give grants?
University of Wisconsin Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (5 grants).
Does University of Wisconsin Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on University of Wisconsin Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Sch I, Part IV" (5 grants).
How large is University of Wisconsin Foundation?
University of Wisconsin Foundation reported $6.3B in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $680.9M.
What is University of Wisconsin Foundation?
University of Wisconsin Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Madison, WI. It holds $6.3B in total assets as of 2025.
What is University of Wisconsin Foundation's EIN?
University of Wisconsin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-0743975. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 29, 2021)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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University of Wisconsin Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?