A Bold Announcement

SDSU Foundation is set to make a historic announcement on SDSU’s latest comprehensive campaign.

The SDSU Foundation will present two game-changing events Thursday, October 21 as the university embarks on its third and largest comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Billed as A Bold Announcement, President Barry H. Dunn and co-chair Dana Dykhouse will reveal details of the campaign at 4:30 pm in Club 71 of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. It will be the largest campaign in South Dakota history.

The celebration continues at 5:30 pm on the Alumni Green and Sylvan Theater. Forever Blue: Twilight at the Campanile will include food trucks, SDSU ice cream, campaign logo wear, and music. The family-friendly festivities will continue into the evening, with live performances from the SDSU Concert Choir and Drum Line starting at 7:15 pm. The performance will be accompanied by video projections onto the 165-foot Coughlin Campanile.

Wordmarks for both campaign launch events, A Bold Announcement and Forever Blue: Twilight at the Campanile.

Foundation leadership began exploring a comprehensive campaign in July 2016, just months after President Dunn took office. The process includes development of the university’s top priorities and a feasibility study to determine a goal. A leadership phase began January 1, 2017. This announcement will shift the campaign into its public phase.

SDSU’s first comprehensive campaign, Visions for the Future (1994-1998), exceeded its $50 million goal with $52 million in gifts and commitments. The second, It Starts with STATE (2007 to April 2013), had a goal of $200 million. The campaign raised $255 million.

“We recognize that SDSU’s bold aspirations are dependent upon continued strong philanthropic support from alumni, friends, and business and industry partners,” said Steve Erpenbach, President and CEO of the SDSU Foundation. “A public comprehensive campaign will rally people around the initiatives that university leadership has identified as critical for SDSU’s continued growth.”

An extensive campaign leadership structure that includes 13 members of a Campaign Cabinet and a 14-member Business and Industry Cabinet comprised of the region’s strongest employers will be announced Thursday.

The campaign will have a people-centered focus, with a heavy emphasis on scholarships and faculty support.

The Foundation will provide updates on these Facebook events:


Thursday’s events are going to be epic!

But if you absolutely, positively can’t be in Brookings, you can watch both events through a live stream, either on Facebook or YouTube.

A Bold Announcement (stream begins at 4:30 pm)

Forever Blue: Twilight at the Campanile (stream begins at 7:15 pm)

NOTE: If you plan to watch on Facebook, make sure to refresh the page at the time of the event to view the stream.