By BSU Marketing and Communications—
MUNCIE, Indiana – One Ball State Day, Ball State University’s 24-hour online fundraising event, returns April 5 with some ambitious goals.
After three consecutive years of increased giving since the event’s inaugural celebration in 2019, One Ball State Day (OBSD) organizers this year hope to raise at least $1 million in gifts from Cardinals around the world to continue to support the financial needs of students, faculty and staff, and programs.
Ball State graduates, friends, and supporters can participate in the event by donating online at oneballstate.bsu.edu anytime from midnight-11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 5. Supporters are also encouraged to post their Cardinal pride throughout the day on social media and inspire their friends to give by using the hashtag #OneBallState.
“It is gratifying to see our alumni, faculty and staff, students, parents, and friends join together to celebrate Ball State and give to the areas of the university that matter the most to them,” Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearnssaid. “These gifts support the academic programs, student organizations, and numerous funds that make possible the transformative impact our University has on the lives of thousands of women and men. I am grateful to everyone who has previously participated in One Ball State Day, and to those who will give again on April 5.”
Building off the momentum of last year’s event—which resulted in more than 10,000 gifts totaling more than $905,000—this year’s One Ball State Day has many planned events on Ball State’s campus:
- Grab-and-go activity stations on the sidewalk outside of the David Letterman Communication and Media Building.
- “I Spy Charlie” treasure hunts.
- “Cardinal Cabs:” hour-long trivia games on a Ball State-wrapped shuttle bus, hosted by President Mearns and other university administrators, coaches, cheerleaders, students, and mascot Charlie Cardinal.
- “One Ball State Day Live:” virtual panels with inside looks at Ball State Athletics, women’s leadership and philanthropy, the past and future of the campus landscape, and alumni engagement (registration is required).
- A life-sized Cardinal nest, located at Shafer Tower, built by the Interior Design Alliance student organization.
Each year One Ball State Day has seen an increase in participation by graduates, employees, students, and parents, with gifts received from all 50 states and several countries.
The inaugural One Ball State Day was held in 2019. It resulted in more than $425,000 contributed for scholarships, academic programs, and student organizations. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University shifted its fundraising efforts to focus on Ball State students facing extraordinary financial needs, specifically highlighting the Jack Beyerl Student Emergency Aidand Take Flightfunds. That year’s day resulted in more than 6,300 gifts totaling approximately $534,000.
Last year’s One Ball State Day, meanwhile, saw nearly a 60-percent increase in total gifts and almost a 70-percent increase in donated funds.
Since its inception, One Ball State Day has earned 13 national awards from organizations such as the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), a global non-profit association dedicated to educational advancement, in categories such as “Best Practices in Fundraising,” “Marketing on a Shoestring,” “Fundraising Pivot,” and “Best Practices in Annual Giving.”
For more information about One Ball State Day, including participating groups, event challenges, how to become an ambassador, frequently asked questions, and more, visit the OBSD website.
About Ball State
Founded in 1918 and located in Muncie, Ball State University is one of Indiana’s premier universities and an economic driver for the state. Ball State’s 21,600 students come from all over Indiana, the nation, and the world. The 790-acre campus is large enough to accommodate first-rate facilities and 19 NCAA Division I sports, but our welcoming and inclusive campus is small enough to ensure the friendliness, personal attention, and access that are the hallmarks of the University. Destination 2040: Our Flight Path establishes Ball State’s ambitious goals for our second century. We Fly!
