In its sixth year, Birds Give Back, Illinois State University’s day of giving, will be Thursday, February 22, during Redbird Philanthropy Week, February 19-23. Building Birds Together is the theme for 2024 Birds Give Back, as thousands of Redbirds unite to support Redbird causes.
Birds Give Back was launched in 2019 and has become a popular annual tradition for Redbirds. Just over $1,061,000 was raised last year in 2023 on the 24-hour giving day. A new record was set in the number of donations received with 4,439 gifts.
In total, over $4.8 million has been contributed over the past five years of Birds Give Back from donor-issued challenge incentives, pledges, and donations for a cumulative total of more than 14,500 gifts.
Illinois State University’s goal for this year on Birds Give Back is to receive at least 4,000 gifts in 24 hours. To set a new giving day record, we would need to receive 4,440 gifts.
“Birds Give Back is about more than the numbers, but we’ve seen how donations on Birds Give Back become transformational for so many students and their academic experience at Illinois State University,” said Senior Managing Director of Annual Giving and Philanthropy Engagement Jillian Nelson.
“Our goal is to meet the needs that faculty and students have chosen to feature on Birds Give Back, and also to provide Redbirds a fun and engaging philanthropic experience. Birds Give Back is a way to strengthen the Redbird community and educate students about the impact donors make on campus,” Nelson said.
The day will be full of giving challenges campus-wide and for specific departments. To start the day strong, a generous alum has challenged the Illinois State community to participate. When 1,000 gifts are received, we will unlock their $25,000 gift to support Redbird scholarship.
All other giving challenges happening on Birds Give Back in support of our students and faculty will be listed on the Birds Give Back website. Updates will be made leading up to February 22 and throughout the giving day as challenges are met and generous donations are unlocked.
In addition, to celebrate our “Building Birds Together” theme, donors giving a transaction of $250 or more during Birds Give Back will have the opportunity to receive a custom-made Lego-like Reggie Redbird. This special gift will be available to the first 1,000 donors who meet the giving threshold and will be shipped to donors who confirm their selection of the exclusive Reggie gift.
Redbirds that participated in Birds Give Back last year, whether they gave $20 or $200, made a difference in the lives of students and their Redbird experience. One example of this impact is described by Tina Williams, professor and chair of the Management Department in the College of Business, one of the largest departments at Illinois State.
“Because of donors that gave on Birds Give Back, the Management Department was able to provide transformational learning experiences and wraparound services to help our students. Twelve students traveled to Barbados for eight days or to Romania for 14 days as part of our Faculty-Led Study Abroad programs. Eight of these students were able to participate at no cost,” said Williams.
“We also provided midterm care packages and hosted a suicide prevention and awareness event under our Management Cares initiative, striving to care for our students using a holistic approach. This would not have been possible without your generous donations. I hope you will partner with us again on February 22 to help us have a positive impact on the lives of our students,” Williams added.
Donations last year on Birds Give Back also helped to provide the ability to bring guest speakers, experts, and acclaimed artists to students in various fields of study, including in the School of Music.
“Donor support on Birds Give Back for the School of Music means so much to me because it has allowed me to bring world-class artists and teachers directly to ISU. Hearing live performances and receiving personal instruction from musicians of this caliber can be truly life changing. My students were so inspired to practice and to learn, and that enthusiasm carried them for months afterwards.”
Dr. Cora Swenson Lee, Instructional Assistant Professor of Cello
All of the featured projects and funds will be featured on the Birds Give Back website on February 22, 2024. Donors and alumni will have the opportunity to choose the areas on campus most important to them.
One of the newest featured areas for donors to give to is the new College of Engineering, which will be raising support for two initiatives on Birds Give Back as the college prepares to open for fall 2025.
“We appreciate all of the alumni and friends that have supported Illinois State over the years to make this vision a reality. We’re asking you to join us on Birds Give Back to help build the College of Engineering from the ground up,” said the Founding Dean of the College of Engineering Tom Keyser.
The College of Engineering Advisory Board challenges all Redbirds and friends to help us build up the new college during Birds Give Back. They have pledged to match gifts to the College of Engineering dollar-for-dollar up to a total of $10,000. In addition, Keyser would like to see us raise funds for our future engineering students and will unlock a $6,000 challenge gift from the Keyser family when we receive 25 gifts to support Engineering scholarships during Birds Give Back!
Birds Give Back is the culmination of Redbird Philanthropy Week, which kicks off February 19 with a variety of online and in-person activities for students to engage in giving and learning more about the impact of philanthropy. Students will have a chance to win prizes and dollars that they can give to a university program of their choice.
All across campus, Redbirds that give on Birds Give Back are making an impact on the people and places of Illinois State. Learn more about your impact. Let’s build Redbirds together on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
To learn more about Birds Give Back, visit BirdsGiveBack.IllinoisState.edu. To sign up as a Redbird Ambassador for Birds Give Back, email jjjunis@IllinoisState.edu. All Birds Give Back projects and challenges led by students and faculty will be listed on BirdsGiveBack.IllinoisState.edu.
