Last spring, a fundraising campaign during Birds Give Back funded a new internship at Illinois State University Horticulture Center.
Permission to flourish

Last spring, a fundraising campaign during Birds Give Back funded a new internship at Illinois State University Horticulture Center.
In its fifth year, Birds Give Back shattered previous single-day giving records. Preliminary numbers show that Redbirds came together to raise $1,031,225 from 4,439 gifts. The previous record for individual gifts was 3,184, which was set during Birds Give Back’s third year.
The fifth annual Birds Give Back, Illinois State University’s day of giving, will be Thursday, February 23, during Redbird Philanthropy Week with a goal to receive 3,000 gifts in support of Redbird initiatives.
Illinois State’s Redbird Philanthropy Week returns the week of February 20.
In the world of higher education, staying engaged with alumni plays a crucial role in raising private funds to support any university’s priorities. Touching base with alums used to be a phone call away. But these days, the telephone is not always the best way to connect, so with a mission of cultivating relationships, fundraisers have turned to digital marketing.
Steve ’83 and Lori (Walenga) Nalefski ’84 have established an endowed scholarship for declared geology majors.
Illinois State’s faculty place a high value on experiential learning programs that impact students’ personal and professional development outside the classroom.
Our favorite Redbird just revealed his pick for the best and the softest Redbird gift item this holiday season.
Get your clear bag, your Redbird gear, and support Redbird students with this unique Homecoming opportunity.
Mark Dunaway and Jon Farney are alumni so grateful for the support they received at Illinois State that each has created dean’s scholarships to assist students.