One Day for State, a 24-hour campaign that invites Jackrabbits everywhere to join together in celebration of SDSU, had over 5,000 donors come together last Thursday to help raise more than $2 million.
Back in April, South Dakota State University surpassed its half-billion dollar Bold and Blue fundraising goal announcing over $604 million in gifts and pledges that had been received from nearly 31,000 donors.
Even though this fundraiser was four months ago, donors were still excited, eager, and engaged for ODFS, said Erin Glidden, assistant vice president for Pipeline Strategy for the SDSU Foundation.
“People are seeing the money at work,” Glidden said.
This was the eighth year of ODFS. Setting the date happens before the end of the calendar year but internally, it starts ramping up right after the Fourth of July. Foundation members prepared for the event by starting conversations about philanthropy early, highlighting direct ways to donate and adding new events at the block party.
An event called “Jack’s Journey” occurs the night before where Jack, the school mascot, takes a tour around the Brookings community. This year, Jacks Journey featured guests President Barry Dunn, former SDSU wrestler Tanner Jordan, and a member from both the cheer and dance team.
“(Jack’s Journey) started during COVID and people enjoyed it, so we continued to do it,” said Glidden.
The fundraiser began at midnight on Sept. 6 and ran until midnight on Sept. 7. Jack and a foundation member visited classrooms throughout the day to talk briefly about ODFS and handed out a bag of goodies. New this year was an ice cream social at the student union where students could sign up to win prizes, play yard games and receive a clear bag to use at football games.
The night ended with a block party that was open to the campus and Brookings community. Student athletes playing basketball, baseball and signing autographs as well as the Pride of the Dakotas, dance, and cheer teams performing were just a few of many events that happened.
“It bridges the gap between the campus and community,” Glidden said about the block party.
Donors were able to support an area or program they were most passionate about. Out of all the areas and programs, athletics received the most, achieving 160% of their 2,000 donor goal. Overall, nearly $700,000 was raised with over 3,000 donors making that happen.
“Our people believe in us, so they come back and reinvest, that’s why we’ve had success,” said Justin Sell, director of success,” said Justin Sell, Director of Athletics.
This will be Sell’s 16th year at SDSU, meaning he’s seen every ODFS.
“The growth over the years has been incredible. I think the base every year continues to grow, and we keep finding new people that want to jump in and support,” said Sell.
Money raised for athletics goes strictly to the program the donor chooses. With that, athletics programs are able to raise money for their excellence funds, things that would help make their experience better. Giving student athletes a chance to travel to different places, get the equipment they might need, and generating scholarships are just a few ways donations have been put to use over the years. Donations can also go towards capital projects such as; Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, First Bank and Trust arena, the wrestling facility, and the baseball and softball new turf fields.
“People have felt those were good investments because over the years, we’ve taken those investments and we’ve made things better,” said Sell.
With athletics also comes the Pride of the Dakotas marching band. This year they achieved 139% of their 175 donor goal. Over 200 donors helped raise nearly $76,000.
“People donate because they see the students’ efforts. They see the students marching on hot days as well as below freezing temperatures,” said Kevin Kessler, Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music.
Over the last three years, the pride has had around 300 members. Donations provide nutrition and the cost of camp that occurs before the beginning of the school years, travel costs to New York and Minneapolis, and scholarships. Donations made allow us to make large and significant changes, said Kessler.
Hobo Day, SDSU’s homecoming celebration, will take place on Oct. 12 this year. All of the money raised from ODFS goes into helping future Hobo Days. Last year they raised around $18,000 to help plan this year’s events and the parade. This year they achieved 110% percent of their 100 donor goal, with raising over $18,000. All of the funds this year will help plan and execute future events.
“We are grateful that all of this happens,” said Victoria Hansen, Hobo Day Grand Pooba.
Over 100 challenges, either for the college or overarching, were added this year to help raise more funds. 10 student organizations and clubs got their own page this year for the first time ever after filling out an application. Some of them include: Students’ Association, State A Thon, and the robotics club.
Donations this year came from all 50 states, and six different countries.
“It’s transformational for the university,” said Glidden.