Thousands of donors. Thousands of lives changed.
27,686
Acts of Generosity
Every gift helped open doors, remove barriers, and create brighter paths for Redbirds.
$9,403,521
Invested in Redbird Futures
Support across campus fueled scholarships, experiences, innovation, and student success.
Your Birds Give Back Gifts in Action
Birds Give Back is more than numbers. Your generosity is creating real impact across campus. Explore how donor support is changing lives, opening doors, and creating opportunities across Illinois State.
Center for Civic Engagement | Student Affairs
Gifts supported a group of 10 Redbirds on a two-week Alternative Summer Break in Kenya, partnering with Living Positive Kenya to paint schools, build vertical gardens, and engage with local communities.
β Alternative Breaks Participant
Donor support creates immersive global experiences that foster civic responsibility, cultural understanding, and meaningful community partnerships.
WGLT Student Intern | WGLT
Courtney Conroy joined WGLT in 2024 and quickly became an integral part of daily newsroom and on-air operationsβhosting NPR's All Things Considered and WGLT's Highway 309.
β Courtney Conroy, Student Intern
An ISU junior majoring in journalism and mass media, Courtney also works as a news and sports intern at ISU's student-run radio station WZND.
Valle Gianni Field School | Wonsook College of Fine Arts
A four-week program in central Italy where students gain hands-on experience in excavation, survey, GIS mapping, and scientific data recording at a site over 2,500 years old.
Birds Give Back support enabled a student to participate in Illinois State University's first and only state-led archaeological dig in Italy.
The program reflects over a decade of interdisciplinary collaboration, enriching History and Art History while elevating the University's global research profile.
Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment
The Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment is a dynamic, interdisciplinary community dedicated to understanding Earth as humanityβs home and preparing students to address real-world challenges, spanning human geography, geology, physical geography, environmental systems, and sustainability.
They are using tools and methods such as GIS, GPS, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (i.e. drones), satellite imagery, fieldwork, ethnography, and archival research, emphasizing critical thinking, applied learning, and professional preparation. Field experiences are essential to a studentβs education, yet they are costly to provide, and the gifts from Birds Give Back ensure meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities, with students traveling to Chicago, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas, Wyoming, Death Valley, Japan, and Baja Mexico.
Geology Field Camp
The Geology department received more than 200 gifts on Birds Give Back to support Field Campβstudents' capstone experience applying knowledge in unfamiliar geologic areas.
Field Camp gives students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real, unfamiliar geologic terrain. It is a defining moment in every geology student's academic journey.
Bike ISU
Gifts enabled the launch of a campus bike share program where more than 10 bikes are now loaned out to students across campus.
Bike ISU expands sustainable transportation, exercise, recreation, and access across campusβmaking Illinois State a greener, more connected community for every Redbird.
Study Abroad
The Study Abroad Scholarship made a positive impact on students like Caitlyn Perez, a sociology major, providing life-changing academic and personal growth opportunities abroad.
Support helps remove financial barriers that keep students from experiencing the world. International study enriches perspective, expands networks, and strengthens academic achievement.
Red & White Scholarship Stories
Hear directly from students whose Illinois State experience has been shaped by generosity and opportunity through the Red & White Student Scholarship Fund.
Jocelyn
Jocelyn received the Red & White Scholarship for emergency assistance and has a message for all alumni donors who give
Lam
Lam shares his message to all the alumni donors and friends who made it possible for him to reach his goal and graduate. Congratulations to Lam and thank you for giving!
Students Sharing Their Experience
Hear directly from students from different departments whose Illinois State experience has been shaped by generosity and opportunity.
Psychology Department
Allison wants to share the impact of your gifts during Birds Give Back 2026
Communication Sciences and Disorders Department
Carey wants to share the impact of your gift for CSD during 2026 Birds Give Back
College of Engineering
Roman & Terri share how donors giving to Illinois State University's College of Engineering have impacted their Redbird experience.
Sociology and Anthropology Department
Emerson wants to share how giving to the Skibo Scholars Scholarship on Birds Give Back, Illinois State University's giving day, has made an impact for Sociology and Anthropology students in the Skibo Scholars program.
Departments Sharing Their Experience
Hear directly from different departments of Illinois State sharing the impact of your generous donations.
School of Communication
Director Aimee Miller-Ott shares how your donations on Birds Give Back 2026 make an immediate impact on School of Communication Redbirds. Thank you for giving on Birds Give Back!
School of IT
Director Dr. Sherif Rashad shares how your donations on Birds Give Back 2026 make an immediate impact for IT Redbirds. Thank you for giving on Birds Give Back!
Ewing Cultural Center
Toni Tucker (former director) and Lyndsey Carney (incoming director) share how your donations on Birds Give Back 2026 make an immediate impact for Ewing Cultural Center. Thank you for giving on Birds Give Back!