BuckeyeThon at The Ohio State University Receives 2024 Stewardship Award

Miracle Network Dance Marathon recognized top performing Dance Marathon programs at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ Ignite: Peer-to-Peer Leadership Conference held in Kansas City, MO from July 18-21.  

Congratulations to BuckeyeThon at The Ohio State University for being selected as the winner of the 2024 Stewardship Award! In philanthropy, stewardship is the key to creating long-lasting and sustaining relationships between donors and benefactors. This past year BuckeyeThon committed to elevating stewardship efforts to properly recognize, engage and appreciate all generous supporters. 

The introduction of a dedicated stewardship coordinator and comprehensive stewardship tracker marked a significant turning point in the program’s approach. These initiatives allowed them to deepen connections with donors and express appreciation in more personal and meaningful ways than ever before. From Instagram posts that captured the spirit of our donors’ generosity to handwritten notes filled with genuine gratitude, BuckeyeThon sought to ensure that every gesture demonstrated the warmth and sincerity donors deserve. 

Their stewardship efforts did not stop there. They wanted donors to feel like valued members of the BuckeyeThon family and included in the moments that are crucial to BuckeyeThon’s core. That’s why they extended exclusive invitations to events like a VIP reception during Dance Marathon and the annual fashion show. This offered opportunities for donors to connect with the mission on a more personal level. 

Through personalized emails, anniversary cards, and scheduled meetings to regularly update large donors, BuckeyeThon kept our donors informed and engaged every step of the way.  

Miracle Network Dance Marathon is a national movement, involving over 400 colleges, universities and K-12 schools across the United States that fundraise for their local member hospital of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Students involved in a campus’s dance marathon organization spend a year gaining leadership, teamwork, and nonprofit business experience while raising funds and awareness for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. The year culminates with a final dance marathon event on each campus, where students get to meet patient families treated at their local hospital, participate in games and dancing, enjoy entertainment, and reveal their annual fundraising total. Miracle Network Dance Marathon programs have collectively raised more than $350 million since 1991.