The Wilder Foundation: Empowering Students
The Wilder Foundation was established in 2026 following five successful years of fundraising through the Wilder Network. From the beginning, the aim has been simple: to invest in young people and help them make a real difference.
By putting students at the heart of what we do, we support individuals, create opportunities and help charities make a lasting impact across the UK and Ireland. Our work is about much more than supporting a single cause – it is about building a community where students can support others while also getting the most from their own university experience.
We are a student-powered, not-for-profit organisation, with fundraising that is by students, for students and led by students. Today, we are proud to support thousands of students across the UK and Ireland, helping them overcome challenges, explore new opportunities and give something back along the way.
Our Mission
We believe every student deserves the chance to thrive, whatever their age, background, gender, identity, income, ability or disability.
Our mission is to create a university community where students feel confident getting involved with important charitable causes, accessing opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach and developing skills that will benefit them both personally and professionally.
Whether it is through fundraising, volunteering, grants or awareness campaigns, everything we do is focused on giving young people the support and opportunities they need to move forward.
Ultimately, our ambition is to become the UK’s and Ireland’s leading student-focused charitable organisation.
Our Vision
The Wilder Foundation exists to invest in the next generation.
We work with both national and local charities to strengthen the support available to students and create opportunities that can have a lasting impact. We want our work to make a difference today while also helping to build a stronger and more supportive student community for the future.
One of the ways we do this is through our Wilder Wishes grants. These grants help students facing financial difficulties, pursuing academic goals or developing their sporting, artistic and creative talents. For some students, this support can be the difference between putting an ambition on hold and having the opportunity to make it happen.
But our support isn’t only financial. We also give students opportunities to volunteer, organise fundraising events and gain practical experience that can help them develop confidence, skills and valuable experience for their future careers.
Our promise is simple:
“Wherever students are, we will be there.”
A Community That Makes It Possible
The Wilder Foundation is powered by a community of people who believe in giving young people a helping hand.
Our supporters, ambassadors, volunteers, staff, trustees and student fundraisers all play an important part in what we do. Every person who gets involved helps us reach more students, support more causes and create more opportunities.
Together, we can achieve far more than we could alone.
Four Ways We Support Students
Everything we do is connected. Fundraising helps us provide grants. Grants create opportunities. Those opportunities encourage more students to get involved, raise awareness and support others.
Awareness Campaigns
We work with charities and campaigns tackling some of the issues that affect young people across the UK and Ireland.
By raising awareness, encouraging prevention and supporting important research, we help students understand the causes that matter and give them opportunities to play their part.
Fundraising Events
Fundraising should be something everyone can get involved in.
That’s why we organise accessible and affordable events and work with like-minded organisations to make sure that cost doesn’t stand in the way of taking part. Whether someone wants to organise an event, join one or simply help spread the word, every contribution can make a difference.
Wilder Wishes Grants
Our Wilder Wishes programme provides financial support to students who are facing hardship or working towards academic, sporting, artistic or creative goals.
Sometimes, a relatively small amount of support can make a huge difference. A grant can help a student access an opportunity, continue with something they are passionate about or achieve a goal that might otherwise have been out of reach.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is about more than giving your time. It’s also an opportunity to learn.
Through the Foundation and our partner organisations, students can gain practical experience, develop new skills, meet new people and build confidence. These experiences can also help strengthen their CVs and improve their employability when they graduate.
Supporting Causes That Change Lives
At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to young people and the charities working to make a difference in their lives.
Every campaign, event and grant provides another opportunity to invest in students while supporting causes that have a wider impact.
One organisation we are particularly proud to support is Anthony Nolan, one of the UK’s leading blood cancer charities. Through our work together, we help raise awareness among students about stem cell donation and encourage more young people to join the stem cell register.
Signing up takes just a few minutes, but becoming a potential stem cell donor could one day give someone living with blood cancer the chance of a life-saving match.
Looking to the Future
The Wilder Foundation is still growing, but our purpose remains clear.
We want to create a community where students have the confidence and support to make the most of their university years, while also having the opportunity to help others.
From providing financial support to students and raising awareness of important causes, to creating volunteering opportunities and bringing people together through fundraising, every part of our work is about creating opportunity.
Because when students are given the right support, they can achieve incredible things. And at the Wilder Foundation, we believe in giving them the chance to do exactly that.
Fundraising by students, for students, led by students.