The UWL Alumni and Friends Foundation exists to build lifelong relationships and raise private support to advance the mission of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
A defining feature of the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Alumni & Friends Foundation Inc is how much of its support moves as restricted donations into university departments and programs. The largest recent grants all went to the University of Wisconsin La Crosse in La Crosse, Wisconsin, with transfers of $1,419,949 in 2023, $951,485 in 2024, and $1,414,525 in 2025 for departmental and program use. That pattern shows a foundation built to channel donor-restricted funds into the university’s operating and programmatic needs rather than broad external philanthropy. Beyond those large transfers, the foundation also supports student-facing and campus-service costs. Recent grants include funding for dining service bills, a state track meet contractual obligation, and a wrestling social event space rental. The recurring recipient profile points to a funder closely tied to UW-La Crosse’s internal infrastructure, athletics, and student experience. Its stated purpose is to build lifelong relationships and raise private support to advance the mission of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and the recent grants reflect that mission through direct support for departments, programs, and student activities.
The foundation’s scholarship work is a major part of its support for students. It administers annual scholarships for enrolled University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students through the General Application Process, with awards funded by donor endowments and annual gifts and distributed through the scholarship portal. It also funds faculty- and department-led campus programming through the Non-General Application Process. Recent examples include transfers of restricted donations for use by departments and programs at the university, showing support for academic units rather than only individual students. Athletics and campus events also appear in its grantmaking. The foundation paid a state track meet contractual obligation to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Assoc and covered a wrestling social event space rental through The Main - Lacrosse City Vision Foundation Inc. Those grants show support for program operations and event logistics alongside scholarships.
$1.3M
$54.3M
$7.4M
$4.5M
Most grants fall between $9K and $1.1M, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$1.1M
ALLISON ZIEGELMAN
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The typical grant size is modest at the median, with a p25 of $9,300 and a median of $13,126, while the p75 rises sharply to $1,067,245 because of large restricted transfers to the university. The pattern suggests a mix of smaller program or service payments and much larger pass-through distributions. Recent grants appear to recur across years, especially the university transfers, and the foundation’s active processes include both GAP and N-GAP pathways for scholarships and foundation-funded awards. Accepting unsolicited requests is listed for the application processes shown.
Grantmaking is highly local. Eight of eight recent grants went to U.S. recipients, and 88% of grants by count went to recipients in Wisconsin. La Crosse, Wisconsin appears repeatedly as the main recipient city, including the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, The Main - Lacrosse City Vision Foundation Inc, and Greater La Crosse Area Diversity Council. Outside La Crosse, recent payments also reached Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
It funds university departments and programs, student scholarships, faculty-led projects, and campus expenses. Recent grant descriptions show restricted donations transferred for departmental and program use, scholarship awards for enrolled students, and payments tied to athletics and event costs.
The foundation administers annual scholarships through the General Application Process for enrolled University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students. The scholarships are funded by donor endowments and annual gifts, and the published timelines and instructions govern review and distribution.
Yes. The Non-General Application Process (N-GAP) is used by faculty, departments, and campus units to request foundation-funded awards, program support, and pass-through or endowed awards. The process is described for campus programs, faculty-led projects, and program and equipment support.
By count, 88% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin. Recent recipient locations include La Crosse, Stevens Point, and Charlotte, with La Crosse appearing most often in the grant list.
The median grant is $13,126, with a p25 of $9,300 and a p75 of $1,067,245. That spread reflects a large gap between smaller campus payments and major restricted transfers to the university.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from University of Wisconsin - la Crosse Alumni & Friends Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: UWL faculty, departments, or campus entities seeking Foundation-funded awards; individual award criteria vary by fund and donor restrictions.
Deadline: Timelines for GAP and pass-through awards published (annual timelines). Specific dates vary by cycle.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE | LA CROSSE, NC | $1,293,010 | 2026 | TRANSFERRING PASS-THROUGH, ENDOWMENT, AND UNRESTRICTED DONATIONS FOR USE BY DEPARTMENTS, PROGRAMS, AND THE UNIVERSITY |
| WISCONSIN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOC | STEVENS POINT, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | STATE TRACK MEET CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION |
| LA CROSSE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | LA CROSSE, WI | $7,500 | 2026 | MEMBERSHIP |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE | LA CROSSE, WI | $1,414,525 | 2025 | TRANSFERRING RESTRICTED DONATIONS FROM BANK ACCOUNTS TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR USE BY DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS |
| CHARTWELLS DINING SERVICE | CHARLOTTE, NC | $16,252 | 2025 | DINING SERVICE BILLS PAID FROM RESTRICTED DONATIONS |
| WISCONSIN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOC | STEVENS POINT, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | STATE TRACK MEET CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION |
| THE MAIN - LACROSSE CITY VISION FOUNDATION INC | LA CROSSE, WI | $7,200 | 2025 | WRESTLING SOCIAL EVENT SPACE RENTAL |
| GREATER LA CROSSE AREA DIVERSITY COUNCIL | LA CROSSE, WI | $6,000 | 2025 | MEMBERSHIP |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LA CROSSE | LA CROSSE, WI | $951,485 | 2024 | TRANSFERING RESTRICTED DONATIONS FROM OUR BANK ACCOUNTS TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENTS OR PROGRAMS. |
| WISCONSIN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOC | STEVENS POINT, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | STATE TRACK MEET CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LA CROSSE | LA CROSSE, WI | $1,419,949 | 2023 | TRANSFERING RESTRICTED DONATIONS FROM OUR BANK ACCOUNTS TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENTS OR PROGRAMS. |
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE
$1,293,010TRANSFERRING PASS-THROUGH, ENDOWMENT, AND UNRESTRICTED DONATIONS FOR USE BY DEPARTMENTS, PROGRAMS, AND THE UNIVERSITY
WISCONSIN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOC
$10,000STATE TRACK MEET CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION
LA CROSSE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$7,500MEMBERSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE
$1,414,525TRANSFERRING RESTRICTED DONATIONS FROM BANK ACCOUNTS TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR USE BY DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS
CHARTWELLS DINING SERVICE
$16,252DINING SERVICE BILLS PAID FROM RESTRICTED DONATIONS
WISCONSIN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOC
STATE TRACK MEET CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION
THE MAIN - LACROSSE CITY VISION FOUNDATION INC
$7,200WRESTLING SOCIAL EVENT SPACE RENTAL
GREATER LA CROSSE AREA DIVERSITY COUNCIL
$6,000MEMBERSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LA CROSSE
$951,485TRANSFERING RESTRICTED DONATIONS FROM OUR BANK ACCOUNTS TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENTS OR PROGRAMS.
WISCONSIN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOC
$10,000STATE TRACK MEET CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LA CROSSE
$1,419,949TRANSFERING RESTRICTED DONATIONS FROM OUR BANK ACCOUNTS TO THE UNIVERSITY FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENTS OR PROGRAMS.