The $1 billion “State Your Purpose” campaign for Colorado State University was an eight-year comprehensive campaign that launched in 2012. While the university reached its historic $1 billion goal in 2018, CSU’s Division of University Advancement had plans to officially close and celebrate the campaign on its stated end date in June 2020. Initial celebration plans included an in-person special event targeted to donors and community members. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, CSU was forced to close to the public and cancel all in-person events.
Understanding the importance and obligation to still recognize and report the impact donors’ gifts made to the university during the campaign, while also being mindful of the devastating impacts COVID-19 was having on communities, University Advancement shifted the scale of its plans to a virtual celebration that included an experiential video and small, safe, in-person donor visits from CSU leadership teams and CSU President Joyce McConnell.
From the Judges
Personal delivery of custom gift boxes was a great personalized touch for donors, and well-curated. Video was impactful and very well-produced, and promotional assets were well-designed. Cohesion with the orb/light theme was excellent and well-executed. The Campaign Retrospective website was organized and clean.
