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Giving

Redbird Philanthropy Week

The goal of Redbird Philanthropy Week is to advance the Excellence by Design action item, "Enhance a Culture of Philanthropy" at Illinois State. This goal requires a collective effort. As opportunities arise, we ask your help in sharing how private support provides a margin of excellence at Illinois State.

Ways to Participate

Faculty and staff can help by sharing with students how private support enhances their research, provides awards to high achieving students, and helps students facing financial hardship.

You can also share more about Birds Give Back, by sharing the website with students. There are more tools, graphics, videos and stories of impact available at Illinois State Birds Give Back.

Redbird Philanthropy Week Event Schedule

This year, we will have multiple in-person events across campus to share the importance of philanthropy. You can visit or volunteer at any of the events outlined below:

  • Monday, February 19: Dollars for Donuts Station in Milner Library from 10am to 2pm.
  • Tuesday, February 20: Dollars for Donuts Station in the State Farm Hall of Business from 10am to 2pm.
  • Wednesday, February 21: Dollars for Donuts Station in the Bone Student Center from 10am to 2pm.
  • Thursday, February 22:
    • Redbird Philanthropy Week Feature Event in the Bone Student Center Circus Room from 10am to 2pm.
    • Birds Give Back virtually with command center in the Alumni Center all day.
    • Dollars for Donuts Station in the Center for Performing Arts from 10am to 2pm.
    • Mobile Giving Stations from 10am to 2pm in:
      • Linkins Dining Hall
      • Watterson Dining Hall
      • The Bone Student Center

Redbird Philanthropy Quest

This year, students will be able to complete the Redbird Philanthropy Quest for a chance to receive a free t-shirt. The Quest is entirely online so all students can participate, wherever they're learning. They can access the Redbird Philanthropy Quest by scanning the QR code on signage throughout campus or by visiting Giving.IllinoisState.edu/opportunities/student/quest which is shared on social media and through emails. Thank you for encouraging their participation! The first 500 students to complete the quest will get cozy Reggie footwear!

Prompts for Interactions with Students

If you are interested in talking with your students about Redbird Philanthropy Week, we've included some prompts to get the conversation started.

What do donors support here at Illinois State?

  • All donors are encouraged to invest in their greatest area of interest at Illinois State. This includes Colleges, Milner Library, WGLT, Athletics (including club sports), student scholarships, and more.

How Does Philanthropy Support Students?

  • In 2022. 3,028 scholarships were awarded to students and 75 new scholarships were created. These scholarships were each made possible by private gifts from alumni and friends.
  • Many donors support projects throughout campus by contributing online at Hatch.IllinoisState.edu. For example, 172 donors raised $19,521 for a crowdfunding campaign to support students with food insecurity. More than 960 donors contributed to Reggie’s Holiday Pick, supporting our Red and White Scholarship Fund, an emergency assistance fund for students facing financial hardship.
    • Academic Programs: A $1 million gift by Steve ’73 and Sharon Hagge ’73 established the Hagge Innovation Institute in the College of Business. The Institute provides transformational learning opportunities that results in the essential skills and innovation mindset to lead in the student’s career of choice.
    • Leadership: COUNTRY Financial generously funded the 2022 Katie School Diversity and Inclusion Event, held during the College of Business’s annual leadership event, Business Week.
      Experiential Learning: The Geology department received more than 200 gifts to provide funding for their Geology Field Camp experiences. Experiential learning programs like the Geology Field Camp impact students’ personal and professional development outside the classroom.
    • Student Life: Gifts helped build the new cutting-edge Redbird Esports facility and became one of the first public university programs in the country to excel in varsity esports.

Why do you think participating as a Redbird donor is important?

  • The percentage of alumni who donate is often used by outside organizations as a metric for alumni satisfaction, the idea being that satisfied alumni are likely to donate to their alma mater.
    • U.S. News & World Report uses this metric in their university ranking.
      Some foundations use this metric when deciding where to award grant money.
    • Increasing donor participation strengthens the University’s financial outlook.
  • Why does this matter to students?
    • You and your family are making a significant investment in your education at Illinois State and the value of your ISU degree can go up and down, like stock, depending on the strength of the University. Making an annual gift, of any amount, is one way to protect your investment by showing your support for, and confidence in, your alma mater.