Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about Day of the Badger.
When is UW–Madison’s Day of the Badger this year?
Day of the Badger will be April 8-9, 2025.
Wait, it’s called Day of the Badger, but there are two dates listed here. Why?
This is a bit of an Easter egg, but we’ll clue you in. Day of the Badger begins precisely at 10:12 a.m. on April 8 and ends at 5 p.m. on April 9. That adds up to an 1,848-minute-long campaign, which is a nod to the fact that our great University was founded in 1848.
That’s fun! But what is Day of the Badger?
At its core, Day of the Badger is a philanthropic event. The University of Wisconsin–Madison and its many individual units, like us at the College of Letters & Science, are raising critical funds to create life-changing experiences for current and future Badgers. Your gift to the College of Letters & Science Annual Fund is not just a donation, it’s a ripple effect of positive change. It fuels opportunities for students, resources for research and support for the College to continue providing a world-class liberal arts education. And with every student who flourishes, their impact ripples outward, shaping the world for the better. To pay it forward and make a donation, go to: dayofthebadger.org/campaign/ls-annual-fund/
How do my gifts help L&S students?
Day of the Badger is really about students — giving them memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that open their minds and expose them to careers and research opportunities that will shape the rest of their lives. Gifts by generous alumni make those experiences and opportunities possible.
But let’s get specific. Here are a handful of programs that are supported by the L&S Annual Fund:
- Various scholarship funds, including the Freshman Scholar Awards, which go to outstanding incoming L&S students;
- The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), which is a program dedicated to helping all students thrive in the College;
- The Letters & Science Summer of Excellence in Research (LASER) program, which opens doors to work on research for undergraduate students;
- SuccessWorks, which is the L&S career center; and
- A whole lot more, including community-building events like our L&S Student Night
Is there a matching gift this year that can help me maximize my donation?
Yes! You can double your impact this year up to $8,500 thanks to two anonymous L&S alumni.
Beyond giving, are there other ways to Celebrate Day of the Badger?
Absolutely! One of the easiest ways is to wear red. Day of the Badger is all about showing off your Badger pride, so slap on your favorite UW–Madison gear and make sure to tell people that it’s part of a University-wide celebration. We also encourage you to share that Badger pride on social media by telling your followers all about how L&S shaped your life. Tag the College @uwmadisonls, and we may share your posts. Or you can share posts from our platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X).