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#BirdsGiveBack is Illinois State University’s very own annual day of giving. Redbirds come together in a university-wide effort to inspire alumni, faculty/staff, students, parents, friends, and the community to give to their passion at Illinois State. Through giving challenges, interactive leader boards, giving day ambassadors, and some good-natured fun, you can participate and motivate others to support a favorite college, department, organization, or scholarship that you believe in.

Your support provides crucial resources that nurture the University’s growth and success as a world-class institution. 100% of every dollar you give supports the program you choose - academics, research, scholarships, extracurricular activities, and service to others.

Birds Give Back kicks off at midnight February 27, 2025 and runs through 11:59 p.m. that evening. We will feature a series of challenges, matches, exclusive videos and social media festivities to keep the day interesting and engage a broad range of Redbird supporters.

Giving on #BirdsGiveBack is easy! Find the college, department, organization, or fund that you would like to support.Use our quick and easy online form to submit your gift. We now also accept Apple Pay, PayPal and Venmo on the Birds Give Back website.

When we say “support your passion,” we mean it. You can make a gift to any area of campus that has special meaning to you. All colleges, departments, scholarships, and most organizations have their own fund. You can browse the featured projects and funds that have been chosen by faculty and students.

Don't see the specific fund you want to designate? Simply click on the “Donor Choice” tile from the main Home page. You will then be able to write in the fund you prefer to support.

If you do not see the specific fund you want to give to, simply click on the “Donor Choice” tile from the main Home page (bottom-right of page). As you fill out the donation form, you will then be able to write in the fund you prefer to support. You may also contact the Office of Annual Giving at (309) 438-4483 to make your gift over the phone or visit Giving.IllinoisState.edu and utilize the search function to identify additional funds. No matter how you give on February 27, your gift will still count towards #BirdsGiveBack.

Challenge gifts encourage participation and maximize the impact of your gifts on this special day. A complete list of challenges will be available under the “Challenges” page in the navigation bar. All active matches/challenges can be viewed here.

Share, share, share! Your stories, your images, your memories all shared via social media using the hashtag #BirdsGiveBack allow others to hear about this special day and make their own gift. The more you share, the more successful #BirdsGiveBack will be. You can even sign up to be an official Birds Give Back ambassador and win prizes. Click on the “Ambassador” link at the top navigation bar.

Every gift size is appreciated and makes a difference. We accept gifts of any size on campus; however, a minimum gift amount of $5 applies to the Birds Give Back site due to credit card processing fees. If you have any questions about your gift, please call us at (309)438-4483.

Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match charitable contributions made by their employees. As you make your online donation, at the end of the donation form process you will see the opportunity to search for your employer’s matching gift form. You will receive a link to your employer’s form. If your company is eligible, you may also request a matching gift form from your employer directly and submit the completed and signed form. We will take care of the rest.

The office of Annual Giving is available all day to help answer your questions about giving and #BirdsGiveBack. Please contact us at (309)438-4483 or email AnnualGiving@IllinoisState.edu.

If you are on or near campus and would like to drop by, we are accepting gifts in person all day from 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Alumni Center Room 118.

Bone Student Center, second floor

Center for Performing Arts

If you call (309)-438-4483, we can also assist you with your gift over the phone.

We encourage donors to make their gift online at BirdsGiveBack.IllinoisState.edu. If you have a donor who does not want to make a gift online, you may transfer the call to 309-438-4483 where volunteers are standing by to take their gift or pledge over the phone.

If you or another donor would like to make a pledge, please call 309-438-4483 and we will take the pledge information and complete the form with the necessary information. Donors will receive a mailed pledge reminder following Birds Give Back.

All gifts received in person, over the phone, emailed to you personally or to your department should be delivered in person to the Birds Give Back Command Center located in the Alumni Center, Room 118. Gifts will be entered into the Birds Give Back website to count toward challenges and totals before being delivered to Gift Processing.

Please deliver gifts on Feb. 27 before end of day. If you want to do a curbside drop-off, call (309) 438-4483 when you arrive. Please DO NOT take gifts directly to Advancement Operations.

We will have five different Power Hours on Birds Give Back to have some fun and give away some prizes! Here are the five Power Hour times. If you give during any of these times, a total transaction of $50 or greater, then you qualify to receive a free gift!

6:00 - 7:00 am Rise & Shine Power Hour for a set of cozy Reggie Slippers (the first 100 donors)

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch & Give Power Hour for a Reggie Pickleball set (first 200 donors)

1:00 - 2:00 pm Siesta Power Hour for a Reggie Hammock (first 200 donors)

5:00 - 6:00 pm Making Magic Power Hour for a Lego-like Reggie set (first 200 donors)

8:00 - 9:00 pm Dream Big Power Hour for a Reggie Sand Cloud Towel (first 200 donors)

Transfer the donor to the Birds Give Back Command Center at 309-438-4483, contact Jillian Nelson at jyoun11@ilstu.edu (540) 810-8123, or stop by the Command Center at the Alumni Center, Room 118, for assistance.