UWM Foundation officially incorporated on January 11, 1974 with three founding directors:  Frank J. (Jack) Pelisek, Robert Zigman and Chancellor Werner Baum.

First annual fund raising campaign nets $17,958 from 530 donors

The American Geographical Society’s petition to move its 600,000 item library and map collection from New York City to UWM’s Golda Meir Library receives approval.  Priority

“Key to the Future” Campaign raised $5,982,525, almost a million dollars over the goal. First all-UWM campus campaign.

Adopted Foundation mission statement:  “In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the mission of the UWM Foundation is to obtain and manage private external resources to

Annual Phonathon Campaign grew from a two-week volunteer effort to a year-round program.  Paid student callers and a professional staff directed the Phonathon.

Launch of School of Architecture and Urban Planning campaign and School of Business Enhancing Academic Excellence Campaign—goal $8 million

Edith S. Hefter Conference Center given by Bert G. Hefter in memory of his wife Edith.

Mission statement broadened to include; “raising, stewarding and distributing private funds to help UWM retain its reputation as one of the nation’s most respected urban universities.”

With Peck School of the Arts, UWM Foundation purchased and began renovation of the old Temple Emanuel on Kenwood, to be known as Helene Zelazo Center

$5 million gift from the Helen Bader Foundation, largest grant ever received by a UWM school or college

Milwaukee philanthropist Sheldon Lubar donates $10 million to the university’s business school — the largest single gift in UWM’s history.

UWM concludes largest capital fundraising campaign to-date raising nearly $125 million

In August 2010, The UWM Real Estate Foundation (est. 2005) completes construction on Cambridge Commons Residence Hall, providing students with additional options for on-campus housing, as

Total Foundation assets surpass the $200 million mark

Sheldon and Marianne Lubar donate $10 million to create entrepreneurship center at UWM