BIG RAPIDS — Ferris State University will host its annual day of giving, One Day for Dawgs, on Wednesday, April 8. The university set a $300,000 fundraising goal for the 2026 event to support various student causes and campus programs.
The initiative has been an annual tradition since 2018, allowing donors to fund specific university programs, scholarships and student organizations. The 2026 goal represents an increase over last year, when the university raised more than $288,000 against a $260,000 target.
One Day for Dawgs 2025 reached several participation milestones, recording 1,814 total donations from 1,386 unique donors. This group included 406 first-time donors and 845 alumni who contributed to 93 different campus causes. The final total of $288,494 exceeded the university’s original $260,000 goal.
Jennifer Yontz-Barger, annual giving manager, oversees the event’s coordination. She noted that interest from campus groups is already high for the 2026 campaign. “There is a lot of excitement and early sign-up activity from our campus causes already this year,” Yontz-Barger said. “Our team knows the goal is ambitious, but we also know just how incredible our university community is and how much Bulldogs love helping other Bulldogs.”
Several recurring features will return for the April event, including President Pink’s Picks and Power Hours. The Ferris Foundation will announce a surprise during the Power Hours segment. Fans can also participate in voting to determine the official cause for the spring class of 2026.Supporters of Bulldog Athletics will have opportunities to earn bonuses for their favorite teams. Regarding the scale of donations, Yontz-Barger encouraged participation at all levels. “The most important thing to remember is that every gift, regardless of amount, makes a difference when we all come together and the support the causes we care about,” Yontz-Barger said.
The Annual Giving team will announce public challenges and gift-matching opportunities in the coming weeks. Event updates and challenge details will be published online at ferris.edu/oneday.