Make your donation by November 30! Here’s how:
- Go to the Partners in Giving website.
- Select “UW” under “Donate Now” at the upper right.
- The process is easy from there to make your giving choices, including a payroll deduction option.
A message from the Partners in Giving University Coordinating Committee:
As the active phase of this year’s Partners in Giving campaign draws to a close on November 30, you still have time to support the cause or causes that are important to you! Watch this video message from UW campaign co-chairs Jeff Russell and Jeff Novak. Then, take a few minutes to give today to help us exceed last year’s totals so we can see our co-chairs take an icy dip!
Every year, the Partners in Giving campaign receives questions from the campus community, so as we make a final push to reach our goal of raising $1 million+ for charities, we’d like to try to bust some of the myths we have heard:
Myth: The money collected goes to UW–Madison.
Fact: The university does not collect or receive any donations.
The money donated goes to the organization(s) that you choose. Funds raised are held by the campaign’s fiscal agent and dispersed to the charities at the end of the campaign, minus administrative costs for the county-wide campaign, which cover costs like credit card processing fees, website maintenance, fiscal accounting, materials development, etc. In 2022, Partners in Giving administrative costs were about 4%—this is one of the lowest rates amongst similar employee giving campaigns in the country!
Myth: There could be an employer match to your gift.
Fact: UW–Madison is not able to match employee gifts, for several reasons.
UW funding from the state budget cannot legally be passed through to the Partners in Giving campaign. Other funding from private and public sources, like grants or program revenue, are earmarked for specific purposes—such as research and program support, employee salaries, etc.
Myth: Only large donations matter; a small donation won’t make an impact.
Fact: If you believe in a cause—maybe it’s breast cancer research, veterans’ issues or bringing opportunity and resources to kids in need—then no dollar amount is too small.
One of the best things about a campaign like ours is that you are part of a community effort, bringing your dollars together with those of your colleagues and other public employees in Dane County to create a mountain of impact. You’re truly part of something bigger, with almost $2 million raised last year alone!
If you want to learn more about the impact you can have, check out the charity lunch-and-learn series, or watch videos that speak to the mission or impact of the organizations that partner with the campaign:
- United Way of Dane County: A Safe & Stable Place to Start—Awa’s Story
- Hunger Task Force, Inc.
- Community Health Charities of Wisconsin
- America’s Charities: No Kid Hungry
- Global Impact
- Community Shares of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education
If you aren’t financially able or choose not to contribute, we understand! No one should feel pressured to give to Partners in Giving. This is just one way to support the charities you care about. We also know that so many UW employees already give of their time, talent and dollars to causes outside of this campaign. Partners in Giving is not just about raising funds, it is also about celebrating the long tradition of shared purpose we all find in the Wisconsin Idea—the unwavering belief that our work to improve lives should stretch beyond the boundaries of our campus.
Myth: It’s difficult to donate.
Fact: Partners in Giving provides donation options that fit a variety of needs and preferences.
The quickest, easiest way to give is through the online giving portal. UW employees will use single sign-on to log into their personalized portal, which shows you your donor history. Once logged in, you can either give to the charities you have given to previously or select “search for a charity” from the menu. Then, enter the charity name or number or a keyword in the search box. Use the scroll bar below the search to view the results.
If you prefer, there is also a fillable pledge form you can mail or email to the campaign. Find and print the pledge form on the website, or ask your unit chair for a paper copy. For more info on how to give, refer to the Partners in Giving options for giving.
Myth: Giving via payroll deduction is no longer an option.
Fact: Giving via payroll deduction remains a great way to give!
Use the online giving portal or paper form to make your gift via payroll deduction. The only catch is that you must do so before the end of the calendar year, due to the need to process requests prior to the 1st payroll of the new year. As of January 1, 2024, the option to give via payroll online disappears for the 2023-24 campaign. If you mail/email a donation form after January 1, deductions may not start on time (or at all), so make sure your request is received by December 31!
Myth: The paper booklet and pledge form are no longer available.
Fact: You can still use the paper booklet and pledge form!
Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, when distributing and processing physical forms became impossible, the Partners in Giving Board was evaluating a plan to reduce the paper materials used during the campaign. This makes sense not only for sustainability, but because there is a lot of cost involved in designing, printing, mailing and processing paper booklets and forms.
Yes, we also know a paper option is preferred or necessary for some, so anyone who wants paper materials can:
- Ask your unit chair for printed materials
- Complete an online request form to receive a mailing, or
- Access the electronic PDFs of the form and booklet to print/email
Myth: It is easy to find a charity I care about.
Fact: Surprise… this one is true!
With more than 500 charities listed, the Partners in Giving booklet can seem overwhelming. But don’t let this stop you from getting involved, because it’s easy to find a cause you support! Think about the issues or causes that affect you and your loved ones most. Then, search the booklet (ctrl+F) for a keyword like “children,” “housing,” “conservation” or “healthcare.” Read through the missions of the organizations that focus on your areas of interest and choose the ones that call to you.
If you have numerous causes you care about and just can’t choose, you always have the option of giving to an umbrella organization, which will distribute funds among its member organizations; however, keep in mind that you’ll want to make sure the missions of those member organizations reflect your values. And don’t forget–spreading your dollars out into small donations per pay period is a great way to make an impact!
Myth: The university or the Partners in Giving Board select the charities that can participate in the campaign.
Fact: Wisconsin administrative code determines which organizations are eligible to participate.
Charity eligibility criteria and confirmation processes are determined by Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter Adm 30. An Eligibility Committee reviews each charity’s application against the criteria. The ultimate authority to certify an organization’s eligibility lies with the secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration, which does not base decisions on political affiliation, organization mission, or any other personally-held belief of any individual involved in the campaign. The list of eligible charities is updated every year.
While some folks may choose not to give because they do not support one or more of the organizations that participate in the campaign, Partners in Giving is designed to create choice for donors, allowing you to choose to contribute your funds directly to organizations that you support! If you designate a charity, that is where your donation goes. You can select any local, state, national or international organization that participates in campaign to receive your donated funds.
Myth: The campaign ends on Nov 30.
Fact: While this year’s active campaign runs from October 9 to November 30 (this start date is always the 2nd Monday in October and the end date sometimes differs annually based on when Giving Tuesday falls), the campaign can continue to collect donations through May 14 of the following year—in this case, May 14, 2024.
Last year, the campaign raised $300,000 between November 30, 2022 and May 14, 2023, enough to make a big impact in the community!
Questions?
If you have any questions about the campaign or need help with materials, technical assistance, etc., please contact your school/college/division Partners in Giving chair or reach out via email. We are here to help.
Be Part of Something Bigger! Support the causes that are meaningful to you!