The Bemidji State Alumni & Foundation’s 2023 Day of Giving was a major success.

More than 600 supporters reached and surpassed the foundation’s goals for Day of Giving, a 24-hour online fundraising campaign that builds support for current and future BSU students.

In total, 614 donors raised exactly $200,000 through more than 800 donations on the Feb. 21 Day of Giving. The funds will directly benefit and empower BSU students.

“We are deeply moved by the great show of community from Beavers around the globe in supporting the BSU departments, programs and initiatives that mean the most to them,” said Gwenia Fiskevold Gould, BSU Alumni & Foundation’s director of annual giving and Day of Giving coordinator.

Donors from 35 different states, Canada and Hong Kong all took part in the event. A total of 564 gifts came in from Minnesota, while Wisconsin (35 donors) and North Dakota (24) also came up big.

As for affiliations, 42 percent of donors were alumni. Another 12 percent were parents, 10 percent were faculty or staff, 9 percent were friends and 1 percent were board members. And, perhaps coolest of all, current students make up another 2 percent of donors.

Because of these efforts, more BSU students will earn scholarships. Fewer nursing and education students will worry about their exam fees. Aquatic biology research will continue in earnest, and music majors will benefit from funds toward the program’s greatest needs. Students facing hardships — particularly American Indian students — will
be cared for. And BSU athletic programs have a better chance at chasing their next championship.

This year’s campaign marked the fifth Day of Giving at Bemidji State. In total, the event has now raised nearly $800,000 for the university and its students.

Day of Giving proves that the world is full of passionate and benevolent Beavers
like yourself, and we couldn’t be prouder to call you our own.