BACKING THE UNIVERSITY IS WARF’S STRENGTH
Our goal is to provide consistent support that the university can rely on over multiple funding cycles, respond to current research needs with supplemental grants, and grow WARF’s support each year to keep pace with the acceleration of world-class innovation on campus.
2025-26 Academic Year Support
| Research Projects | $50,030,000 |
| Research People | $35,960,000 |
| Research Facilities | $75,820,000 |
| Annual Research Support for UW-Madison | $161,810,000 |
| Annual Research Support to Morgridge Institute (UW-Madison Affiliate) | $5,200,000 |
| Operational and Functional Support | $39,900,000 |
| Total Academic Year Support | $206,910,000 |
Projects Advancing UW-Madison Research
This category includes funding for strategic initiatives, the annual Fall Research Competition, matching grants for externally funded projects and other supplemental grants.
| Strategic Initiatives | $20,140,000 |
| Fall Research Competition | $8,000,000 |
| Matching Grants | $6,000,000 |
| Estimated Lab and Department Share Grant | $2,500,000 |
| Estimated Distribution of Department Share (Royalty Funds) | $6,500,000 |
| Anticipated for WARF Accelerator and Therapeutics Programs and Donor Funds | $6,190,000 |
| Entrepreneurship Initiatives | $500,000 |
| Additional Support | $200,000 |
| Total Support for Research Projects | $50,030,000 |
People Conducting UW-Madison Research
Direct support for faculty researchers, graduate student fellows and staff scientists — fuels current and future talent on campus at every level of the research enterprise, from senior faculty to new hires and research assistants.
| Faculty Recruitment and Retention | $11,500,000 |
| Graduate Student Support | $12,000,000 |
| Faculty Fellowships | $2,500,000 |
| Administration | $1,910,000 |
| Campus Programming | $2,050,000 |
| Endowment for Excellence | $6,000,000 |
| Total Support for Research People | $35,960,000 |
Facilities Where Research Takes Place
WARF has contributed funds for the construction and improvement of more than 50 buildings and pieces of major equipment for UW-Madison research.
| Value of Discovery Building Property Transferred to UW-Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research | $55,820,000 |
| Funds for Future Support of the Discovery Building | $20,000,000 |
| Total Support for Research Facilities | $75,820,000 |
Operational and Functional Support for UW-Madison
Since 1925, WARF has provided mission-driven operational and functional support for UW-Madison in the form of technology commercialization and asset management. These wide-ranging services are a unique model in higher education as most universities must bear the cost of such expenses on their own.
| Operational and Functional Support: | $39,900,000 |
Morgridge Institute for Research Grant
WARF also supports the Morgridge Institute for Research, a private, nonprofit organization working to improve human health by conducting, enabling and translating interdisciplinary biomedical research in collaboration with UW-Madison.
| Morgridge Institute for Research | $5,200,000 |
Spending Guidelines
Our annual spending is determined based on a percentage of the value of WARF’s portfolio (more specifically, the unrestricted portfolio’s 12-quarter average market value). These funds will be used to support the annual grant to UW-Madison, the Morgridge Institute for Research and, if necessary, WARF operations.
These guidelines allow us to support today’s researchers while maintaining support for future generations of university scientists.
Resources
- Learn about specific categories and how grants are determined.