Missed One Ball State Day? Click here to make an impact!
$ 1,426,041 raised 7,410 gifts
Center for Business and Economic Research has raised $ 2,450 from 13 gifts!
Center for Business and Economic Research
Valuable Economic Insights for Businesses and Communities

The Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at Ball State University conducts data-driven, nonpartisan research on economic issues affecting communities in Indiana and beyond. 

For more than 50 years, we have been a trusted resource for public officials, policymakers, business and community leaders, journalists, and the general public.

Support Our Mission

Your gift directly strengthens CBER’s ability to conduct meaningful research by funding essential resources, including student support, advanced research tools, and expanded outreach efforts. With your help, we can continue delivering valuable economic insights that drive informed decision-making.

Your contribution helps to: 

  • Fund student wages and scholarships for undergraduate and graduate research assistants, whose work supports CBER and our project partners, including the Indiana Communities Institute.
  • Provide professional development opportunities for students and staff to participate in conferences and workshops. 
  • Enable travel to speaking engagements across the country, bringing CBER's insights to a broader audience. 
  • Expand our research capacity through access to the latest data subscriptions, research tools, and cutting-edge technology.

Making an Impact

CBER's work reaches far and wide:

  • Our experts are frequent speakers for audiences throughout the country. 
  • Our annual Indiana Economic Outlook is a must-attend forecasting event for business leaders in East Central Indiana.
  • Our research is regularly cited in the media, and journalists seek our expert opinions. 
  • Through our partnership with the Indiana Communities Institute, we help shape best practices for economic development and community resiliency—making Indiana a model for sustainable community growth. 
  • Our student alumni enjoy impactful careers in business, government, and academia. 

Join Us in Making a Difference

Your support ensures that CBER continues to provide valuable economic insights that help communities thrive. Join this important work by making a gift today!

Share your Cardinal pride using #OneBallState
Leaderboard
Morning Leaderboard
The four departments/units/teams with the most donors by 10 a.m. receives $3,000, $2,000, $1,000, and $500 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Department/Unit/Team Donors
1 $3,000 Theatre & Dance 131
2 $2,000 Indiana Academy 86
3 $1,000 Field Hockey 70
4 $500 Communication Studies 56
5 Football 48
Ended
Leaderboard
College Donor Leaderboard
The college that has the most donors by midnight will receive $5,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $5,000 College of Fine Arts 723
2 Teachers College 670
3 College of Communication, Information, and Media 512
4 Miller College of Business 429
5 College of Sciences and Humanities 399
Ended
Leaderboard
Academic Department Gift Leaderboard
The three academic departments with the most gifts by midnight receive $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Department Gifts
1 $5,000 Theatre & Dance 699
2 $3,000 Communication Studies 290
3 $1,000 School of Music 204
4 Accounting 158
5 Center for Information & Communication Sciences 111
Ended
Leaderboard
Who is giving?
Which part of the Ball State family is making the biggest impact on One Ball State Day?
What is your affiliation to Ball State University
Rank Answer Donors
1 Alumni 2,210
2 Friend 911
3 Employee 828
4 Parent 712
5 Student 441
6 Young Alumni (2016-2026) 242
7 Indiana Academy Alum 112
8 Emeritus/Retired 71
9 Burris Alum 15
Ended
Leaderboard
College Leaderboard
The four colleges with the biggest percentage of money raised from OBSD 2025 will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 and $500.
Rank Prize College % +/- Goal
1 $3,000 Teachers College +260.28% $165,078.10
goal: $45,819.00
2 $2,000 College of Health +56.82% $94,393.86
goal: $60,194.00
3 $1,000 College of Sciences and Humanities +14.83% $69,831.79
goal: $60,811.00
4 $500 College of Fine Arts +14.02% $160,177.42
goal: $140,480.00
5 Miller College of Business +7.52% $133,851.87
goal: $124,491.00
Ended
Success!
Student Donor Challenge
5 randomly selected student donors will receive $250 to designate to the fund of their choice.
Completed
Success!
The First Four Challenge
The first student, employee, parent, and alumni donor will each receive $250 given to the fund their gift went to.
Completed
Success!
First 5 Academic Departments
The first 5 academic departments to receive a gift will each receive $500 in challenge funds.
Completed
Success!
First International Alum Challenge
The first international alum to make a gift from abroad on One Ball State Day will get $500 in challenge funds designated to the fund their gift went to.
Completed
Leaderboard
10AM—Noon Leaderboard
The five units/areas/teams that raise the most money from 10 a.m. — Noon each receive $1,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Unit/Area/Department Raised
1 $1,000 Men's Golf $16,157.00
2 $1,000 Gymnastics $5,392.34
3 $1,000 Field Hockey $5,165.00
4 $1,000 Theatre & Dance $4,556.64
5 $1,000 Indiana Academy $4,537.08
Ended
Leaderboard
Afternoon Leaderboard
The five departments/areas/programs with the most donors between 3-5 p.m. will each receive $1,000 in challenge dollars.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1,000 Theatre & Dance 59
2 $1,000 Field Hockey 59
3 $1,000 Indiana Academy 53
4 $1,000 Communication Studies 38
5 $1,000 Soccer 36
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors - Unit Leaderboard
The five departments/areas/programs with the most donors by midnight will each receive $1,000
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1,000 Theatre & Dance 517
2 $1,000 Indiana Academy 310
3 $1,000 Field Hockey 232
4 $1,000 Gymnastics 190
5 $1,000 Communication Studies 183
Ended
Success!
Ball State Employee Social Media Challenge
Faculty and staff social media challenge! Share a photo of your 'Because of Ball State' postcard to share how Ball State has shaped who you are today—or what you and your area have been able to accomplish because of Ball State. Be sure to stamp your post with #OneBallState and #BecauseOfBallState. Two random participants will get to donate $500 in challenge funds toward their favorite area.
Completed
Success!
Social Media Video Share Challenge
Share any of the One Ball State Day videos on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram Stories, or TikTok using #OneBallState for a chance to earn extra challenge dollars. Two participants will get to donate $500 to their favorite area. Tag @BSUFoundation or @BallStateAlumni ❤️
Completed
Success!
LinkedIn Challenge
Share a One Ball State Day post on LinkedIn on April 1st for a chance to designate $1,000 to your favorite Ball State area! Use #OneBallState and tag the Ball State Foundation!
Completed
Success!
Paint the U.S. Cardinal Red
Paint the U.S. Cardinal Red. Gifts from all 50 states will unlock $5,000 from the Alumni Council to Ball States greatest needs.
Completed
Success!
Because of Ball State Video Challenge
Share your “Because of Ball State” video with #OneBallState for a chance to win $1,000 in challenge dollars to support the area of your choice. We’ll select three winners!
Completed
$1,000
$20,000 MCOB Dean's Challenge
$20,000 in gifts to Miller College will unlock $1,000 in challenge money from Cathy DuBois, Bryan Dean of Miller College, to be designated to the Miller College Study Away and Abroad fund.
$20,000 / $20,000 Raised
Completed
Leaderboard
Miller College Department Leaderboard
The Miller College academic department with the largest percentage increase in donations compared to last year’s One Ball State Day will unlock a $1,000 gift from Cathy DuBois, Bryan Dean of Miller College.
Rank Prize Department % +/- Goal
1 $1,000 Department of Marketing +378.57% 67
goal: 14
2 MBA | Master of Business Administration +66.67% 15
goal: 9
3 Center for Business and Economic Research +30.00% 13
goal: 10
4 Economics +20.00% 18
goal: 15
5 Accounting +8.97% 158
goal: 145
Ended
$5,000
50 Gifts by Noon for MCOB
If Miller College receives 50 gifts by noon, it will unlock $5,000 from Jason Harrington, '95, for the Miller College general fund.
50 / 50 Gifts
Completed
$2,500
250 MCOB Gifts Challenge
If Miller College receives 250 gifts on One Ball State Day, it will unlock an extra $2,500 from Larry Metzing, '70, to the Miller College of Business General Fund.
250 / 250 Gifts
Completed
$1,200
75 Gifts by 3 p.m. for Miller College
If Miller College receives 75 gifts by 3 p.m., it unlocks a $1,200 challenge from Gary Gatton, '85, toward the MCOB EAB Master Teacher Fellowships Fund.
75 / 75 Gifts
Completed
Success!
Charlene Alexander Chief Strategy Office Challenge
Dr. Charlene Alexander, Chief Strategy Officer, will give $600 to the Chief Strategy Office Unit that generates $600 in gifts on One Ball State Day.
Completed
Leaderboard
Provost Marri College Challenge
Top 3 colleges in number of donors will unlock $250 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place from Provost Marri.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $250 College of Fine Arts 723
2 $150 Teachers College 670
3 $100 College of Communication, Information, and Media 512
4 Miller College of Business 429
5 College of Sciences and Humanities 399
Ended
Success!
Registrar Staff Challenge
April Hay, University Registrar, will match up to $250 of her staff’s donations during OBSD.
Completed
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Or you can contact us at oneballstateday@bsu.edu.