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!

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Early Bird Challenge
Event
Early Bird Challenge
Rise and shine! The first student, employee, parent, and graduate who give will earn $250 extra for the fund they supported.
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Race to Give Challenge
Event
Race to Give Challenge
The first 2 academic departments and the first 2 sports teams to receive a gift will each receive $500 in challenge funds.
Leaderboard
Morning Leaderboard Challenge
The three areas with the most donors by 10 a.m. will receive $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Units, Funds, & Programs Donors
1 $3,000 Theatre & Dance 27
2 $2,000 Indiana Academy 13
3 $1,000 Special Education 5
4 Proud Ball State Parents & Families 4
5 Educational Leadership 3
Event
Morning Giveaway Challenge
From 8 - 11 a.m., five donors will be selected at random and $1,000 will be given to the fund their most recent gift went to.
Starts in
Event
Ball State Employee Challenge
A random Ball State employee will earn $250 for the fund they supported from 10-11 a.m.
Starts in
Leaderboard
Brunch Leaderboard
The five areas that raise the most money from 10 a.m. - Noon will each receive $1,000 in challenge funds.
Department (129)
Starts in
Leaderboard
5pm Donor Leaderboard
The four units with the most donors by 5 p.m. will each receive $500.
Rank Prize Unit Donors
1 $500 Theatre & Dance 27
2 $500 Indiana Academy 13
3 $500 Special Education 5
4 $500 Proud Ball State Parents & Families 4
5 Educational Leadership 3
Give Now
Young Alumni Giving Challenge
Event
Young Alumni Giving Challenge
When ten young alumni give by Noon, YAC President Giang Petroviak, will donate $200 to the Young Alumni Council Student Leadership Scholarship fund.
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Selfie Challenge
Event
Selfie Challenge
Post a One Ball State Day selfie with #OneBallState and earn $250 for the fund of your choice! We'll choose one random winner at 1 p.m.!
Leaderboard
Donor Leaderboard
The five units with the most donors by midnight will each receive $1,000.
Rank Prize Unit Donors
1 $1,000 Theatre & Dance 27
2 $1,000 Indiana Academy 13
3 $1,000 Special Education 5
4 $1,000 Proud Ball State Parents & Families 4
5 $1,000 Educational Leadership 3
Give Now
Social Media Video Challenge
Event
Social Media Video Challenge
Post a One Ball State Day video on social media with #OneBallState. We'll select two random participants, and they'll get to designate $500 to the fund of their choice! Winners will be chosen at 9am and 3pm!
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Monthly Donor Challenge
Event
Monthly Donor Challenge
Help us get to 100 monthly donors by midnight! Two recurring donors will be randomly selected and earn $250 for the fund their gift was to.
Leaderboard
College Donor Leaderboard
The college that has the most donors by midnight will receive $5,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize College Donors
1 $5,000 College of Fine Arts 31
2 College of Communication, Information, and Media 12
3 Teachers College 10
4 College of Sciences and Humanities 7
5 Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning 4
Give Now
Faculty and staff social media challenge!
Event
Faculty and staff social media challenge!
Share a photo of your OBSD postcard so everyone knows what you’re supporting on OBSD. Be sure to stamp your post with #OneBallState. Two random participants will get to donate $500 in challenge funds toward their favorite area. We'll choose a winner at 7pm!
Event
Power Hour
The area that receives the largest gift between 6 -7p.m. will be awarded an extra $1,000.
Starts in
Give Now
First Time Donor Challenge
Event
First Time Donor Challenge
The unit with the most first time alumni donors will receive $1,000.
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Paint the U.S. Cardinal Red
Event
Paint the U.S. Cardinal Red
Gifts from all 50 states will unlock $1,918 to support the Ball State Fund.
Leaderboard
College Gift Increase Leaderboard
The three colleges with the biggest percentage of increased gifts from OBSD 2024 will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1000.
Rank Prize College % +/- Goal
1 $3,000 College of Fine Arts -93.49% 62
goal: 953
2 $2,000 Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning -97.44% 4
goal: 156
3 $1,000 College of Communication, Information, and Media -98.21% 15
goal: 840
4 Teachers College -98.34% 15
goal: 903
5 Honors College -98.67% 2
goal: 150
Give Now
OBSD Video Challenge
Event
OBSD Video Challenge
We’re randomly selecting two One Ball State Day videos posted on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram with #OneBallState. Two lucky winners will each get to donate $500 to the area of their choice! Be sure to tag @BSUFoundation and use #OneBallState. Winners will be chosen at 8 p.m.!
Leaderboard
Evening Donor Leaderboard
The five areas with the most donors between 8-10 p.m. will each receive $1,000 in challenge dollars.
Department (129)
Starts in
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Name That Goose Challenge
Event
Name That Goose Challenge
Honk honk! The two most creative goose names will each earn $500 for the fund of their choice! Get creative and post your goose name with #OneBallState and #HonkHonk on social media. Winners will be selected at Noon and 10:30 p.m.!
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Miller College Alumni & Friends Challenge
$1,000
Miller College Alumni & Friends 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.
$225 / $20,000 Raised
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Larry Metzing Miller College Challenge
$2,000
Larry Metzing Miller College Challenge
If Miller College receives 200 gifts on One Ball State Day, it will unlock $2,000 from Larry Metzing, ’70, to the Miller College of Business General Fund.
4 / 200 Gifts
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Miller College EAB Giving Challenge
Event
Miller College EAB Giving Challenge
If 100 percent of the Miller College Executive Advisory Board members give on One Ball State Day, it will unlock a $600 challenge from Dick Poppa, '74 to the Miller College of Business General Fund.
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MCOB Student Giving Challenge
Event
MCOB Student Giving Challenge
Miller College of Business Dean Cathy Dubois will match $500 in funds donated to Miller College from students.
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Miller College Study Abroad Impact: 75 Gifts to Unlock $5,000
$5,000
Miller College Study Abroad Impact: 75 Gifts to Unlock $5,000
If 75 people give $100 or more to Miller College, Stefan Anderson (HHD '93) will contribute $5,000 to the Miller College Study Away and Abroad Fund.
1 / 75 Donors
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Mike Earley Giving Challenge for MCOB
$500
Mike Earley Giving Challenge for MCOB
If Miller College receives 175 gifts, it will unlock $500 from Michael Earley,78, to the SOAR Program Fund.
4 / 175 Gifts
Leaderboard
Provost Marri College Leaderboard Challenge
The three colleges with the most donors will unlock an additional $250 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place from Provost Anand Marri.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $250 College of Fine Arts 31
2 $150 College of Communication, Information, and Media 12
3 $100 Teachers College 10
4 College of Sciences and Humanities 7
5 Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning 4
Give Now
LinkedIn Challenge
Event
LinkedIn Challenge
Share a One Ball State Day post on LinkedIn on April 1st or April 2nd for a chance to designate $500 to your favorite Ball State area! Must use #OneBallState and tag the Ball State Foundation!
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Graduates of the Last Decade Challenge
Event
Graduates of the Last Decade Challenge
In honor of 10 years of the Young Alumni Council, 250 gifts from graduates of the last decade to any University Fund unlocks a $250 donation from the Young Alumni council to the Student Leadership fund.
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Foundation Employee Giving Challenge
Event
Foundation Employee Giving Challenge
100% participation of Foundation employees unlocks $500 from Foundation and BSUAA President Jean Crosby towards the Ball State Fund.
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EPM Employee Challenge
Event
EPM Employee Challenge
VP for Enrollment Planning and Management Paula Luff will match dollars raised from EPM employees, up to $500, to the Jack Beyerl Student Emergency Aid Fund.
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International Alum Challenge
Event
International Alum Challenge
The first international alum to make a gift on One Ball State Day will earn $500 in challenge funds for the fund they supported.
Give Now
Closing Time Challenge
Event
Closing Time Challenge
The last student, employee, parent, and alumni donor will each earn $250 for the program they supported.
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Or you can contact us at oneballstateday@bsu.edu.

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Help us unlock a $5,000 reward!
Participating Groups
Alumni Association Athletics Chief Strategy Office Ball State Fund Ball State PBS Burris Laboratory School Christian Student Foundation Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning College of Communication, Information, and Media College of Fine Arts College of Health College of Sciences and Humanities Digital Corps Employee Emergency Fund Graduate School Honors College Immersive Learning Indiana Academy Indiana Public Radio Learning Center Miller College of Business Name a Goose Online Student Support Fund Rinker Center for Global Affairs Student Affairs Scholarships Teachers College Undergraduate Research & Creative Project Support University College University Libraries Women of Beneficence (Discovery)

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