Missouri State University is calling on students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends to participate in Giving Day on March 5 and 6.
Giving Day is a 36-hour event that unites Bears and Grizzlies across the globe to garner support for the university. This event rallies the entire campus community to attract new donors and increase previous donor support.
“Giving Day helps define the future of Missouri State,” says Alison Harper, director of annual funds.
Gifts are made to the donor’s area of choice – providing each respective college, department, team and program with the unique opportunity to steward a better future for their students.
What does it mean to Be Part of the Future?
For alumni, this year’s Giving Day is an opportunity to remember the faculty and staff who guided them, the friends they made and the experiences that defined their journey.
It is a time for alumni and friends to make a collective impact on the future of Missouri State by supporting the area that means the most to them.
Giving increases resources for colleges, units, programs and athletic teams across campus – leading to a brighter future for the university and a better experience for students.
“The first person I told about my scholarships when I got it was my mom. I called her crying on FaceTime and we jumped up and down together. We were so excited and I just felt so relieved because I just knew everything was going to work out,” Missouri State University Foundation scholarship recipient Jennifer Mango said.
Because of her scholarship, she has been able to focus on her education and spend more time with her son while attending Missouri State.
“Student scholarships would not be possible without private donations,” Harper adds. “But you can give to the area of your choice, so it doesn’t have to be student scholarships. It could be the Bear Pantry or somewhere else that’s close to your heart.”
Gifts not only aid students in supporting their education, but also provide funds for new facilities, equipment and projects such as the new Student Center for Autism and Neurodiversity on the West Plains campus or the new Global Education Lab.
“Giving Day also impacts the quality of education we provide by providing current use funds to departments who ensure the best resources are available for students,” Harper said.
In 2024, Missouri State has set the ambitious goal of inspiring 2,400 people to contribute to Giving Day… and we need your help!
How you can make an impact on future Bears and Grizzlies
“Ambassador’s are essential to get the word out to their networks about Giving Day,” Harper says.
“Ambassador’s share why it’s important for them to give back and why it’s important for others to support Missouri State.”
Last year, Giving Day boasted over 200 Ambassadors who stepped up to the challenge, inspiring others to make 814 gifts. If the university is to reach its new goal, more Ambassadors are needed.
By leveraging their personal network, Giving Day Ambassadors inspire Bears and Grizzlies to reimagine Missouri State’s prospects for future generations.
Any student, faculty, staff, alumni or friend can become an Ambassador. Sign up to be an Ambassador on the Giving Day website and attend a training session on February 13.
Email AlisonHarper@MissouriState.edu to sign up for training. Once registered and trained, Ambassadors get their own unique link to track their impact on March 5 and 6.
Harper adds that being a successful ambassador is “as easy as you plus two.”
On March 5, Ambassadors are encouraged to make their gift using their unique link and to find two other donors to make one, too. An Ambassador Toolkit has been created to aid Ambassadors in their efforts. The toolkit includes sample emails and texts as well as images for download.
In return, You + 2 Ambassadors will receive an exclusive 40 oz Missouri State or Missouri State-West Plains tumbler and a vintage logo sticker sheet.
For those who want to support Giving Day in other ways, Harper emphasizes the impact of challenge and matching gifts.
Match and challenge gifts are gifts of $500 or more that unlock when a specific unit achieves its goal. Match and challenge gifts increase the number of donations by 110%, leading to a huge impact on the area the match or challenge is supporting.
Bears, Grizzlies and friends can also support Giving Day by simply sharing about it with friends and family.
The power of giving
Reflecting on the remarkable strides made during last year’s Giving Day, Harper said, “Last year, we had our most successful Giving Day with $1.6 million in gifts. We surpassed our donor goal with 205 verified ambassadors. So, we’re setting our bar higher this year.”
From enhancing the quality of education to alleviating financial burdens, the ripple effects of philanthropy extend far and wide leaving an indelible mark on generations to come.
Each donation, regardless of size, reverberates across campus, enriching the fabric of student life and amplifying the university’s impact far beyond its walls.
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