UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1945

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

ALISA A ROBERTSON

Phone

6082634545

Tax Period

2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION, founded in 1945, is a major nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $680.9M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue decreased 12% compared to the prior year. Expenses of $658.4M left a modest 3% surplus.

Mission

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.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $196,895,770

CAPITAL ADDITIONS AND FACILITIES - THE UW FOUNDATION PROVIDED $197 MILLION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN IN SUPPORT OF NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, MAINTENANCE, AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS...

CAPITAL ADDITIONS AND FACILITIES - THE UW FOUNDATION PROVIDED $197 MILLION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN IN SUPPORT OF NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, MAINTENANCE, AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS. STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES HELP THE UNIVERSITY ATTRACT HIGH-CALIBER FACULTY AND STUDENTS. THESE FACILITIES AND GROUNDS PROVIDE SPACE, ENVIRONMENTS, AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT PROMOTE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF TEACHING, LEARNING, AND RESEARCH.

Program 2

Expenses: $125,029,315

DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT - THE UW FOUNDATION PROVIDES CRITICAL FUNDING TO SENIOR UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS GRANTING THEM THE NEEDED FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO BOTH EXISTING AND UNFORESEEN OPPORTUNITIES. THIS DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT HELPS FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY BY FULFILLING THE GREATEST NEEDS AND TOP PRIORITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY.

Program 3

Expenses: $94,853,881

FACULTY SUPPORT AND RESEARCH - WITH $95 MILLION FROM THE UW FOUNDATION, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FACULTY AND STAFF RECEIVED CRITICAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT ALLOWING FOR INCREASED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVED CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS. PRIVATE GIFT SUPPORT HELPS THE UNIVERSITY ATTRACT AND RETAIN WORLD-CLASS FACULTY, WHICH ULTIMATELY ATTRACTS THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST STUDENTS, AND IMPROVES THE UNIVERSITY'S REPUTATION AS A LEADING UNIVERSITY. AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE NUMBER OF ENDOWED FUNDS SUPPORTING FACULTY TOTALED 765 WITH AN ADDITIONAL 339 FUNDS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR RESEARCH AND RESEARCH EQUIPMENT.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $347,553,672

Program Service Revenue $1,100,736

Investment Income $331,627,782

Other Revenue $585,855

TOTAL REVENUE $680,868,045

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $548,751,779

Salaries & Benefits $43,878,303

Fundraising Expenses $43,262,208

Program Expenses $584,658,409

Other Expenses $63,595,208

TOTAL EXPENSES $658,424,352

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$680,868,045	$776,771,718	-0.1%
Expenses	$658,424,352	$564,023,383	+0.2%
Net Income	$22,443,693	$212,748,335	-0.9%

Key Indicators

✓ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✓ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✓ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

458

Volunteers

1500

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

⚠ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✓ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$5,113,230

Total Directors

$1,554,307

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
MICHAEL M KNETTER	CEO (UNTIL 12/31/24)	60.00	Officer Director	$820,496	$135,291	$955,787
ALISA A ROBERTSON	PRESIDENT/CEO (AS OF 1/1/25)	55.00	Officer Director	$537,702	$60,818	$598,520
PAUL S SHAIN	CHAIR	2.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
LOUIS A HOLLAND	VICE CHAIR	2.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
LINDA L AHLERS	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
RAJIV BATRA	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHELLE A BEHNKE	DIRECTOR (UNTIL 6/30/25)	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUSAN J CELLMER	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUZANNE N DEWOLF	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEFFREY J DIERMEIER	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SONNET C EDMONDS	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUSAN S ENGELEITER	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHAEL B FERDMAN	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
COLLEEN A GOGGINS	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ELIZABETH M QUADRACCI HARNED	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ELZIE L HIGGINBOTTOM	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
WILLIAM P HSU	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CYNTHIA A IHLENFELD	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PETER S KIES	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
VALARIE KING-BAILEY	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JUN W LEE	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROGER M MANSUKHANI	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ALICE D MORTENSON	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
LORNA E NAGLER	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID O NICHOLAS	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SUSAN S PATTERSON	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
STEPHEN R PETERSEN	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
TODD C PULVINO	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CHRISTINE A ROTSCH	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
LAUREEN E SEEGER	DIRECTOR (UNTIL 5/28/25)	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHAEL S SHANNON	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SANDRA G SPONEM	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
THOMAS D STEVENS	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PATRICK A THIELE	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JAMES T THOMPSON	DIRECTOR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEFFREY D WIESNER	DIRECTOR (UNTIL 6/30/25)	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PAUL J COLLINS	EX OFFICIO - TERM IS CONTINUOUS	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JERE D FLUNO	EX OFFICIO - TERM IS CONTINUOUS	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
TED D KELLNER	EX OFFICIO - TERM IS CONTINUOUS	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN J OROS	EX OFFICIO - TERM IS CONTINUOUS	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
FRANCES S TAYLOR	EX OFFICIO - TERM IS CONTINUOUS	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHAEL L STOHLER	CIO	55.00	Officer	$1,943,576	$55,198	$1,998,774
CARL J LAURINO	CFO	50.00	Officer	$371,138	$52,558	$423,696
NICOLE R MCDONALD	CONTROLLER/TREASURER	50.00	Officer	$216,092	$22,737	$238,829
ABIGAIL A CAHAK	CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER	50.00	Officer	$212,733	$29,210	$241,943
BRENDA J PHEBUS	CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER	55.00	Officer	$202,026	$41,744	$243,770
MARIANNE SIESS	CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER	50.00	Officer	$192,923	$33,892	$226,815
FALICIA N HINES	SECRETARY	50.00	Officer	$165,514	$19,582	$185,096
CHRISTOPHER A MOORE	DEPUTY CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER	50.00	Highest	$994,559	$55,198	$1,049,757
RICHARD J SHEPLEY	SR. MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS	50.00	Highest	$946,665	$55,198	$1,001,863
KATHERINE L WYBLE	MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS	50.00	Highest	$762,210	$35,998	$798,208
SEAN ARP	CHIEF OPERATING OFF OF INVESTMENTS	50.00	Highest	$514,216	$55,198	$569,414
JAMES G ELKINS	DIRECTOR OF INVESTMENTS	50.00	Highest	$407,968	$25,425	$433,393
JOHN C NORTON	FORMER ASSISTANT TREASURER	0.00		$218,712	$29,651	$248,363
SCOTT T MCKINNEY	FORMER CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER	0.00		$198,706	$38,898	$237,604
SARAH L SCHUTT	FORMER CHIEF ALUMNI OFFICER & EXEC.	0.00		$189,259	$40,272	$229,531

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$680,868,045	$658,424,352	$6,317,679,254	$22,443,693
2024	$776,771,718	$564,023,383	$5,809,599,535	$212,748,335
2023	$490,458,457	$435,563,925	$5,258,973,342	$54,894,532
2022	$1,306,102,571	$379,636,732	$4,965,210,272	$926,465,839
2021	$739,045,115	$391,682,705	$5,692,461,410	$347,362,410
2020	$528,921,791	$314,138,927	$4,431,877,103	$214,782,864
2019	$563,594,697	$339,317,810	$4,366,316,830	$224,276,887
2018	$476,077,786	$342,390,880	$4,174,956,171	$133,686,906