Ex-Cisco CEO John Morgridge & wife offered University of Wisconsin $100 million in 2014; 7 months later, their fundraising challenge brought in nearly $250 million.

Former Cisco CEO John Morgridge and his wife, Tashia Morgridge, launched a fundraising challenge in 2014. They pledged to match $100 million in donations made by University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni. The initiative was aimed at raising funds to help the university retain its faculty members.

Within seven months, $125 million in donations were made by over 1,000 alumni. University leaders assumed that it would take two to three years to fulfill the match. Morgridges agreed to match the entire $125 million donation, making the total fundraising amount reach $250 million.

This donation was made with an initiative "to fund new and enhanced endowments for named professorships, chairs and distinguished chairs at the university," wrote the University of Wisconsin Foundation page.

Philanthropic Morgridges

Forbes reported that John Morgridge’s estimated net worth is at least $6.5 billion, largely tied to his significant holdings of Cisco Systems Inc. Morgridges signed 'The Giving Pledge' in 2010, the page writes, "Morgridges have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Stanford University, and the Morgridge Family Foundation. They have historically stated they have given away more than half of their net worth."

Alumni Park page also wrote that Morgridges have made many grand gifts to University of Wisconsin-Madison. It said, "They made possible the Morgridge Center for Public Service, gave $50 million for the Morgridge Institute for Research, $100 million for faculty retention and $34 million for renovation of the education school. They also provided a $175 million endowment for the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars, which provides grants to low-income students to attend Wisconsin’s public colleges."

UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said that the generosity of John and Tashia Morgridge and the hundreds of proud Badgers who joined them will transform the University's ability to retain and attract top talent. She further said that the fund raised was beyond the dollars that go to the faculty members. Blank highlighted that it is "about the ability to recruit and retain outstanding faculty who attract top graduate and undergraduate students and compete for federal research dollars."

Who are John Morgridge and Tashia Morgridge?

John & Tashia Morgridge graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1955. They got married and moved to the West. John attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and Tashia started her teaching career.

John Morgridge has previously served as president, CEO, and chairman of the board of Cisco Systems, Inc.

He transformed the San Jose company into a major global supplier of computer networking products.

Tashia Frankfurth Morgridge has maintained close ties with the School of Education, where she graduated in 1955. She serves as a member of its board of visitors and sponsors scholarships that provide support to students aiming to become teachers. Tashia was also a special education teacher for kids with learning disabilities.

FAQs

1. What was the fundraising challenge launched by John and Tashia Morgridge in 2014?
   In 2014, former Cisco CEO John Morgridge and his wife, Tashia Morgridge, launched a fundraising challenge pledging to match up to $100 million in donations made by University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni and supporters to help retain faculty members.
2. How much money was raised through the Morgridge fundraising initiative?
   The Morgridge fundraising initiative raised $125 million in donations from over 1000 alumni within seven months, which John and Tashia Morgridge agreed to match, bringing the total amount to $250 million.
3. What impact did the Morgridge donation have on the University of Wisconsin–Madison?
   The donation is set to enhance endowments for named professorships, chairs, and distinguished chairs at the university, thereby improving its ability to recruit and retain outstanding faculty and attract top graduate and undergraduate students.