In A Look Back on a Campaign for the Future (Grow, Fall 2021), managing editor Nik Hawkins offered a glimpse of what CALS has been able to achieve with gifts garnered during All Ways Forward, the largest comprehensive campaign in UW–Madison’s history. We were given a sampling of stories from the perspectives of donors and beneficiaries alike, and we learned what generosity combined with hard work and ingenuity can accomplish.

For those who need a refresher on the campaign, here’s a little background. In fall 2015, UW set an ambitious goal to raise $3.2 billion by the end of the decade. Although UW is a public university, fundraising has become more critical than ever to its mission, and to that of CALS. Private funding is one of the largest pieces of the university’s fiscal pie — more than state revenue, more than federal financial aid, and just slightly below what the university gathers in both tuition and federal grants. Private financial support lets us do things we otherwise couldn’t do, whether that’s with facilities or faculty, students or programs.

For a moment or two at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we thought we would have to dial back our expectations, but an extra campaign year put things back on track — and then some. We shared some impressive numbers back in the fall. But, as of December 2021, All Ways Forward officially came to an end, and now we have final figures in hand. You see them for yourself here:

Clearly, the campaign was a resounding success. For this spectacular commitment to the future of UW and CALS, we owe our thanks to many, many dedicated alumni, donors, and friends. You have our everlasting gratitude and the promise that we will keep working hard to make the most of your investment.

This article was posted in In Vivo, Spring 2022 and tagged All Ways Forward, comprehensive campaign, donations, fundraising, gifts.