The Wilder Foundation: Empowering Students. Creating Impact
Founded in 2026 following five years of successful fundraising across the Wilder Network, the Wilder Foundation was created with a simple but ambitious purpose: to reinvest directly into young people while supporting causes that matter across the UK and Ireland.
Built by students, for students, and led by students, we are a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to creating opportunities, driving positive change, and strengthening communities. Today, we proudly support thousands of students across universities throughout the UK and Ireland.
Our Mission
We believe every student deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Regardless of background, ability, age, gender, identity, income, or disability, students should have access to experiences, support, and opportunities that help them make the most of their university journey.
Through fundraising, grants, volunteering, and awareness campaigns, we empower students to achieve their potential while making a meaningful difference to the wider world. By investing directly in young people, we create lasting impact that extends far beyond any single beneficiary.
Our ambition is clear: to become the leading student-focused charitable organisation across the UK and Ireland.
Our Vision
The Wilder Foundation exists to champion students and strengthen the support systems around them.
Working alongside both national and local charities, we help build sustainable infrastructure that enables young people to flourish. Our funding reaches students facing financial hardship, pursuing academic goals, and pushing boundaries in sport, creativity, and personal development.
But our work goes beyond grants alone. We create opportunities for students to fundraise, volunteer, gain practical experience, and become active contributors to causes they care about.
Wherever students are, we will be there
Four Ways We Support Students
Everything we do is connected. Fundraising generates support. Support creates opportunities. Opportunities inspire awareness. Awareness brings more students into the movement.
Raising Awareness
We collaborate with charitable organisations and campaigns that address issues affecting young people throughout the UK and Ireland.
From health and wellbeing initiatives to fundraising partnerships and student-led campaigns, we help shine a spotlight on important causes while encouraging prevention, education, and support.
Our initiatives include:
- Annual partner charity campaigns
- Cross-campus wellbeing and awareness weeks
- Student-led social impact projects
Fundraising Events
We believe financial barriers should never prevent students from getting involved.
That’s why we create accessible fundraising opportunities through both Wilder-led events and partnerships with some of the UK’s most recognised challenge brands.
Students can take part in experiences such as:
- Wilder Fight Night
- Fashion Shows
- Games Events
- Wild Runs
- Tough Mudder challenge events
- Hardest Adventures challenges
- Community fundraisers, sweepstakes, sponsored activities, and more
Whether you’re stepping into the ring, crossing a finish line, or organising an event on campus, every challenge helps create opportunities for others.
Wilder Wishes Grants
Through our Wilder Wishes programme, we provide direct financial support to students who need it most.
Our grants are designed to help students overcome obstacles and pursue opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
Support is available across three key areas:
Hardship Grants – helping students facing financial, health-related, or personal challenges.
Academic Grants – supporting educational ambitions and opportunities where cost should never be the deciding factor.
Creative and Athletic Grants – enabling students to develop their talents beyond the lecture theatre and pursue excellence in sport, arts, and culture.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering sits at the heart of the Wilder Foundation.
We provide meaningful opportunities for students to build confidence, develop employability skills, and gain real-world experience through Foundation activities and partner events.
Opportunities include:
- Wilder Experiences executive teams on host campuses
- The Wilder Ambassador Programme (launching 2026/27)
- Event-day volunteering and support crews throughout the year
These experiences help students develop leadership, teamwork, communication, and organisational skills that will benefit them long after university.
Join the Next Chapter
Our partnerships with leading challenge-event providers mean students can access reduced-cost and, in some cases, fully funded entry places to some of the UK’s most demanding and rewarding events. In return, participants raise funds that help support students across the country.
Whether you want to bring Wilder to your campus, apply for a Wilder Wish, volunteer at an event, or fundraise for a cause that supports students nationwide, we’d love to hear from you.
Together, we’re creating a movement that empowers students, strengthens communities, and delivers lasting impact.
