In an era where donor count is trending down and questions about the value of higher education are trending up, how can communications and marketing professionals keep audiences engaged and ready to give? With the help of some killer sticker incentives and a little ingenuity, Kansas State University Foundation is daring to ask donors what they care about and then creating personalized content strategies that hit the engagement mark.

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.