UW-Madison Will Host Annual Fill the Hill Fundraiser
The campus tradition returns next week to support the university's day-of-giving campaign.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Philanthropy
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UW-Madison will mark the 14th year of its annual Fill the Hill fundraiser starting next Thursday. The event encourages donations to the university, with donors earning the right to place plastic flamingos on Bascom Hill.
Why it matters
The fundraiser serves as a vital component of the university's day-of-giving campaign, which has historically generated significant financial support for institutional initiatives.
The fundraiser has accumulated over 25,000 gifts totaling nearly $5 million since its inception. Last year alone, the campaign secured $784,687 through 4,610 individual contributions.
The players
UW-Madison
This public research university located in Madison serves as the host institution for the annual fundraising event.
The details
Donors contribute a minimum of $5 to add a flamingo to the display, with higher tiers offering mini or full-size bird replicas for gifts of $100 or $350, respectively. The display is a nod to a 1979 student prank that saw over 1,000 plastic birds placed on the campus landmark.
Timeline
Thursday at 5 p.m.: Call for donations begins.
Friday at 5 a.m.: Flamingos begin appearing on Bascom Hill.
Friday at 5 p.m.: Fundraiser concludes.
Market Landscape
This event transforms a historic campus prank into a structured annual university giving campaign. It follows the pattern of institutionalizing grassroots engagement to drive consistent donor participation.
Residents and alumni can participate by making a minimum $5 gift to support the campaign. Higher donation levels provide donors with keepsake mini or full-size flamingos.
The takeaway
The event demonstrates how universities leverage creative traditions to incentivize alumni and community involvement. Participants can engage directly with the campaign by planting their own birds on campus after donating.
Further reading
Learn more about local giving initiatives by visiting the Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Channel 3000.
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