Missed One Ball State Day? Click here to make an impact!
$ 1,426,291 raised 7,411 gifts
Charles W. Brown Planetarium has raised $ 7,142 from 39 gifts!
Charles W. Brown Planetarium

Together, we can make an impact.

image of the exterior of the planetarium, dome building, flowers in foreground

Your contribution to the planetarium directly impacts Ball State students and the Muncie community. 

Your contribution supports initiatives such as...

  funds student staff!

  enhances events with new technologies and immersive programs!

  expands our hands-on activity stations and telescope observing opportunities!

  encourages scientific literacy and advancement!


 Ball State students contribute to all planetarium events.

The Brown Planetarium is part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy and students from this department and others work in the planetarium. They love sharing their knowledge and passion for the universe with others.


Who visits?

student worker presenting in front of a full planetarium with the pleiades star cluster overhead on the domeOver 22,000 people enjoy the planetarium each year and we see over 10,000 school kids who come during field trips! Public planetarium events are free and open to all, with nearby parking for public programs.

Our namesake.

Charlie Brown and wife Louise Tetrick standing by a large 10 outside the planetairum

Charles W. Brown (R) and his wife Dr. Louise Tetrick at the 10 Year Anniversary Celebration of the Planetarium in November 2024.

 

The Charles W. Brown Planetarium is named for businessman and philanthropist Charlie Brown, BA '71, whose passion for science was rekindled by the planetarium project. Mr. Brown and his wife, Dr. Louise Tetrick, hope the planetarium provides an incredible resource for the community, especially youth, as well as university students. Their goal is to make a difference in kids’ lives, as they believe that is where we can all be the most impactful.

 

We are continuously inspired and humbled by those who continue to give to support the planetarium; including gifts to the James and Nancy Watson Planetarium Science Education Fund. This fund was set up by the late Nancy Watson to support the science educational outreach mission of the planetarium to K-12 children.

 

 

Join those who have given to the planetarium today!

student worker presenting in front of a full planetarium with the Earth's magnetosphere overhead on the dome

 Stay connected with the Brown Planetarium on Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube!

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
Non Academic / Non Athletic Leaderboard
The four non academic/non-athletic areas with the biggest percentage of increased gifts from OBSD 2025 will receive $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 and $500.
Rank Prize Non-Academic / Non-Athletic Area % +/- Goal
1 $3,000 Proud Ball State Parents & Families +250.00% 35
goal: 10
2 $2,000 Learning Center +140.00% 48
goal: 20
3 $1,000 Undergraduate Research & Creative Project Support +81.25% 29
goal: 16
4 $500 Indiana Public Radio +43.59% 56
goal: 39
5 Ball State University Police Department +41.90% 149
goal: 105
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
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!
The First 5 Non Academic Challenge
The first 5 non-academic department/area/program/team to receive a gift will each receive $500 in challenge funds
Completed
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
Leaderboard
Non-Academic/Non-Athletic Evening Leaderboard
The five non-academic/non-athletic areas with the most donors from 6-8 p.m. will each receive $1,000.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1,000 Ball State University Police Department 21
2 $1,000 Registrar 13
3 $1,000 Mock Trial 11
4 $1,000 Student Emergency Aid Fund 10
5 $1,000 Christian Student Foundation 7
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
Leaderboard
Dean Maureen McCarthy CSH Challenge
The two CSH departments with the largest percentage increase in donations will unlock $500 from Dean Maureen McCarthy.
Rank Prize Department % +/- Goal
1 $500 School of Earth, Atmosphere, and Sustainability +500.00% 30
goal: 5
2 $500 Criminal Justice and Criminology +130.00% 23
goal: 10
3 History +48.57% 52
goal: 35
4 Charles W. Brown Planetarium +34.48% 39
goal: 29
5 Psychological Science +16.00% 29
goal: 25
Ended
$400
Jenny and Kevin Smith Planetarium Challenge
25 gifts to the Planetarium unlocks $400.
25 / 25 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.