Celebrating 75 years of Impact

Sometimes, the greatest innovations can be catalyzed from just the seed of an idea.

From one tiny spark of inspiration comes the fuel for visionary impact, setting in motion pivotal goals that stem from that singular, small concept. In the case of the SDSU Foundation, our organization began not with a seed, but with a seed blower.

In 1946, professor E.L. Erickson had a big idea: he hoped to manufacture and sell a seed blower throughout the nation. A task of that nature would take both time and diligence – what Erickson lacked was funding. He requested financial assistance through SDSU’s Board of Directors, who hired him for the cost of $300 a month to see the project through to completion. Without perhaps even intending to, Erickson and his groundbreaking idea had pioneered a new era of philanthropy for South Dakota State University, and the SDSU Foundation was born.

One of the earliest significant gifts to SDSU was made by Chicago paper magnate Frank Osgood (F.O.) Butler. In the 1940s, Butler gifted a 14,000-acre ranch near Hot Springs, S.D., and $100,000 to create an endowment that was producing $75,000 annually for scholarships. Dr. David Pearson, the former Vice President of Student Affairs, said Butler was “fascinated by South Dakota and the prairie, and he obviously had a high regard for young people.” Pearson, along with faculty members Dr. Rick Wahlstrom and Dr. J.P. Hendrickson served on the F.O. Butler Foundation Board of Directors.

Flash forward 75 years, and the Foundation has launched our third comprehensive fundraising campaign in university history, titled Bold & Blue.

This campaign aims to raise $500 million in support of SDSU, making this not only the largest campaign in university history, but in the history of South Dakota, as well. The funds raised through this game-changing initiative will uplift every corner of SDSU, sustaining the people, places, traditions, and innovations that make our university a premier destination for education and growth.

The Foundation comes from both ambitious and humble beginnings. After Erickson and his invention kicked off our journey, the organization started small. At the first official board meeting, the Foundation’s initial balance totaled $157.32. Even so, that first meeting and the decision to back revolutionary endeavors at SDSU helped gain momentum in establishing our reputation as a university of firsts.

Thanks to generations of unwavering support from private donors, alumni, and friends, we’ve come a long way since 1946. As of October 2021, the Foundation has reached more than $318 million in assets and developed an endowment of $213 million. By the launch of Bold & Blue’s public phase of the campaign, over 22,000 donors had already contributed, eager to write the next chapter of the SDSU legacy.

While our first 75 years as an organization have transformed countless lives, we remain relentless in our pursuit of excellence for the university.

As we embark on our most audacious goal yet through Bold & Blue, we’re not just raising funds – we’re fostering the next generation of Jackrabbits like E.L. Erickson who dare to imagine, “What if?”

Thank you for joining us in building what comes next.