The Wisconsin Union Association is an engaged and inclusive membership organization providing resources to and nurturing connections among the entire Wisconsin Union community. The Wisconsin Union Association, through its Board of Trustees, provides funding and leadership support to Wisconsin Union students and staff to advance inclusive, equitable, and innovative initiatives that strengthen the Union's unique position as the living room of UW-Madison.
How We Began
The Wisconsin Union Association began in the early 1920s, when the Board of Regents voted to undertake a fundraising campaign to build the Memorial Union. Then known as the Union Building Committee and later known as the Memorial Union Building Association, the Committee raised funds to build the Memorial Union.
The Regents envisioned this as a gathering place. With that goal in mind, the Regents encouraged donations to the building fund by stating that anyone contributing $50 or more would become a lifetime member of the Wisconsin Union. More than $1 million in gifts from loyal supporters from around the world made the opening of the Memorial Union in 1928 a reality.