This is our story about a unique partnership between two university centers and how, by celebrating alums over the age of 80 who are optimally aging, we have created an extraordinary avenue of engagement. Through the Eight over Eighty Award Program, we are connecting, and at times, reconnecting extraordinary alums with the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. By partnering with the Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence, we have provided both centers the opportunity to collaborate in a myriad of ways over the simple fact that our alum is an octogenarian! Our perspective on what collaboration looks like has expanded. We view our deepening relationships potential as endless. Join us as we share how this unique partnership has led to win-win-win situations for the Center of Advancement, the Csomay Center, and for the nominated alum.

In a world of ever-evolving multichannel engagement strategies, finding the perfect game plan for donor connection can seem like a daunting task. Many of us, particularly small to mid-level Foundations and Fundraisers with tight budgets, often find expensive one-size-fits-all programs out of reach. We're here to offer an alternative approach and share our resources with other institutes and programs facing the same challenges. Discover how to master the art of donor engagement in-house, make the most of the resources you already have at your disposal, and find ways to create the perfect donor engagement plan for your organization.

Picture a whirlwind of videos, graphics, emails, text messages, social media posts, and an incredible outpouring of support from our campus and alumni community. But it doesn’t stop with digital efforts—One Day for STATE has become a physical presence on SDSU’s campus. We host a Yellow & Blue Block Party featuring various student groups, Jack (our mascot) travels around town the night before to build excitement, and Jack even visits classrooms to engage and interact with our students. It’s a phenomenon that grows year after year.

Since our inaugural One Day for STATE in 2017, which featured 25 challenges and $80,000 in gifts to unlock, we’ve come a long way. In our 7th year, we’re presenting over 100 challenges, totaling an impressive $1.3 million in gifts just waiting to be unleashed, and we’ve raised nearly $2.5 million from more than 6,200 donors in just 24 hours.

One Day for STATE empowers student groups, colleges, departments, and programs to bridge financial gaps and support the entire campus. It’s more than just a giving day—it’s a chance for our community to come together and celebrate SDSU.