Austen Hunzeker
Staff Writer
Idaho State University is seeking to break a record with 1000 donors for the fourth annual Bengal Giving Day on March 18-19.
“Bengal Giving Day is an all-out fundraising bliss for Idaho State University,” said ISU’s Interim Director of Annual Giving, Daniel Moore. “It’s our largest fundraising activity of the year and it’s a chance for members of the community to see what we’re doing at ISU and become an investor in that as well.”
In years past, the event has received up to approximately 950 donors. Last year, the record broke for the most money donated to the fundraiser, as the total was over $1.1 million.
Although the donation amounts were bigger last year, the number of donors was only around 800.
“Our goal this year isn’t so much focused on the dollar amount that we get, but we want to get that donor rate up,” Moore said.
The crowdfunding initiative primarily takes place on the Bengal Giving Day website, where donors can decide how much they would like to donate to the university and what specific program on campus will receive said funds.
There are five main areas that donations can go toward: scholarships, student support, academics, athletics, and campus community. Donors can go to https://bengalgivingday.com/pages/home-2527 and decide to put their donations toward a specific area as they see fit.
“We have about 120 different areas that people can give to,” Moore said.
According to Moore, the fundraiser officially begins at 9 a.m. on the 18th and ends at 4:41 p.m. on the 19th, totaling 1,901 minutes to recognize 1901 as being the year ISU was founded.
Games, a photo booth, t-shirts, opportunities to write thank-you cards, and more will be set up in the Student Union Building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days of the fundraiser to help spread awareness.
“We want people to give to what’s most important to them,” Moore said. “We have a couple dozen student clubs…That is just a really fantastic way to see what the students here at ISU are doing and give them some opportunities beyond just sitting in a classroom.”
Challenges within the fundraiser take place as well, such as President Robert Wagner’s commitment to matching $5000 in donations toward the Roar Scholarship. There is a specific page on the website dedicated to these challenges.
Because students are already paying tuition, their donations are not expected or requested, yet each year, there are still around 100 student donations ranging in the $1-$5 mark. This year, thanks to the generosity of The Pocatello Pet Lodge, a Tiger Dash is taking place where mini Bengals have been hidden all over campus for students to find and bring back to the Student Union Building and, in return, choose where $15 of donations will go. This activity is occurring at all ISU campuses.
Amy Dressel, the communications manager and interim director of the alumni association, wants students to know that this fundraiser is for them.
“All of this is to support them and the next generation of Bengals,” Dressel said. “Our main priority is our students. Everything that we do comes back to them.”
The tagline this year is “Roar With Us.” To celebrate everyone who donates, everyone is invited to the Student Union Building for pizza, donuts, and more at 4:30 p.m. at the conclusion of Bengal Giving Day.
