Welcome!

Since 1974, the UWM Foundation has endeavored to advance the mission of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) through the solicitation of philanthropic gifts to support students, faculty, campus programming and the community. As good stewards of funds designated for the University, we manage a portfolio currently valued at approximately $65 million, and distribute these funds to the University pursuant to donor wishes.

While philanthropy and asset management remain the core of our mission, the UWM Foundation constantly and increasingly pursues new, innovative avenues to support the University. In 2005, we created an affiliated organization, the UWM Real Estate Foundation (UWMREF), to develop and manage real property for the benefit of the campus. In January 2008, the UWMREF opened the doors to its first 488 bed residence hall, RiverView, and is now in the process of building its second 700 bed residence hall, Cambridge Commons. This will be located across the Milwaukee River from RiverView on the corner of Cambridge Avenue and North Avenue. The UWMREF is also working on the development of Innovation Park in Wauwatosa to expand the College of Engineering and Applied Science, as well as seeking a location for a lake front development for the new School of Freshwater Sciences. As UWM continues to evolve from a predominantly commuter campus into a residential campus and expand it’s educational facilities, we are proud that we have not only helped to meet the need for additional student housing and more classroom space, but also of doing so without any infusion of tax dollars.

In addition, the UWM Foundation promotes the University's mission through the support it provides to campus research and research commercialization. In 2006, we created a second affiliated organization, the UWM Research Foundation to foster research and innovation at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, helping it to become an economic engine for Milwaukee. In just three years since the formation of the UWM Research Foundation, we have created an infrastructure for managing UWM’s intellectual property, awarded over $1.3 million to seed promising projects, provided support for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers and helped foster a culture of innovation at UWM. These investments are beginning to pay off with a growing portfolio of intellectual property, the completion of several license agreements and key research results.

The UWM Foundation is a dynamic and increasingly important organization devoted to the success of the University. I am honored to chair the Board of Directors, and invite you to join us in support of this wonderful institution.

Arthur Smith