Our History

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce founded WFIC on February 10, 1954.

WFIC is one of 35 state and regional associations affiliated with The Foundation for Independent Higher Education (FIHE). FIHE represents 645 independent colleges and universities in the United States.

WFIC is a nonprofit corporation. It is classified as a charity under regulations 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations to WFIC are tax deductible.

The modern-day WFIC traces its beginnings to 1997, when a new strategic plan was written that reinvented WFIC with a focus on major gifts fundraising, as opposed to a statewide federated fundraising program like the United Way. Donors were given targeted giving opportunities that coincided with the priorities of the colleges. Scholarships grew dramatically, and revenues doubled from $1 million to $2 million per year under this plan.

The second strategic plan was launched in 2001 and further redefined WFIC as “a catalyst for creative partnerships between the college and donor communities.” Two new projects: College Readiness 21 and the College-to-Work Internship Program were identified as the flagship projects of the plan. Revenues increased from $2 million to $3 million per year under the plan.

The third strategic plan that began in 2005, further redefines WFIC’s mission, saying: “WFIC will help the private colleges build a pipeline of talent to the Wisconsin economy.”  WFIC’s work now touches the lives lives of more than 2,000 students each year, directly transforming more than 1,000. Distributions surpassed $50 million to the colleges in honor of our 50^th Anniversary.

A new strategic plan will be released in 2010.